Bellflower : School Alternatives Studied

Nearly 400 parents and students crowded last week’s Bellflower Unified School District board meeting to discuss reorganization plans to handle increasing elementary school enrollment. Officials are considering adding more classrooms at the elementary level or reopening one of the schools shut in 1980 when elementary enrollment hit 4,043--its lowest point, according to the superintendent’s report that outlines several alternatives available to the district.

Since 1980, elementary enrollment has been gradually increasing and is expected to grow to 5,801 in 1991, according to district projections.

Many parents at the meeting were concerned about a proposal to convert one of the district’s two high schools--Bellflower High in Bellflower or Mayfair High in Lakewood--into a junior high. A similar proposal in 1980 caused such an uproar among Bellflower and Lakewood residents that board President Larry Ward announced the board’s opposition to the proposal at the start of last week’s meeting.

“The board is not considering closing one high school,” Ward said to a round of applause. “We are trying to provide the best educational program for our children. We don’t need a division in the community; we need your help.”

The board will schedule a series of public hearings to continue discussion of the reorganization. The first special meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 12.