Local News in Brief : Las Virgenes School District Votes to Annex Bell Canyon

Officials of the Las Virgenes Unified School District have agreed to annex isolated Bell Canyon west of Canoga Park into their school system to eliminate lengthy bus rides now faced by canyon children.

Las Virgenes Board of Education members unanimously approved the transfer of the 370-home community Thursday night. The switch was sought by canyon residents whose youngsters now have to commute up to 1 1/2 hours to classes in the Simi Valley Unified School District.

The change would take effect in one year. But the move, which is complicated by the fact that Bell Canyon is in Ventura County and the Las Virgenes district is in Los Angeles County, must also be approved by school officials of both counties.

Because of the long trip, all but 20 canyon students last year sought personal transfers to Las Virgenes and Los Angeles schools. Sixty-nine attended Las Virgenes schools and 94 enrolled at city schools in the Canoga Park area.

Las Virgenes officials indicated they will allow Bell Canyon students to finish at Simi and Los Angeles campuses if the annexation takes place as scheduled in one year.

Affluent, gated Bell Canyon can only be entered by a road that starts in the City of Los Angeles and crosses a one-mile stretch of Los Angeles County.