$125,000 Planning Grant : Math-Science High School Receives State Funding

Cal State Dominguez Hills and the Long Beach Unified School District have won a $125,000 state planning grant for a mathematics and science high school for 600 students from throughout the county.

The state Department of Education, citing the “innovative nature” of the proposed high school, made the award last week, contingent upon the Legislature approving a total of $2.1 million in the 1989-90 budget for specialized secondary programs statewide.

This is the second local proposal to be targeted to receive funding from the state. About two weeks ago, El Camino College’s South Bay Center for the Arts and a consortium of six South Bay school districts won a $125,000-grant to establish a High School Conservatory for the visual and performing arts.

The funds for the conservatory will be drawn from $2.1 million in the 1988-89 budget, according to Cathy Barkett of the state Department of Education. It is “very likely” that an equal amount will be included in the 1989-90 budget, she said.

Year of Planning

Both the El Camino and Cal State Dominguez Hills grants are to be used for a year of planning for the specialized high schools, including the hiring of principals and clerical assistance. Classes for both schools would not start until the fall of 1990, officials said.

John A. Brownell, interim president of Cal State Dominguez Hills, said a university-wide committee will meet with representatives of the Long Beach school district to begin planning for the math and science high school on the college campus in Carson. Officials said meetings will begin in July.

“I really believe that the development of scientific and mathematical talent is crucial to the future of California, and this is a significant step toward that goal,” he said.

Charles C. Carpenter, deputy superintendent of the Long Beach school district, said: “We are looking forward to working with Cal State Dominguez Hills on this planning grant. A great deal has to be done in the coming year to qualify for implementation funds.”

Plans call for the first students to attend the math and science high school in the fall of 1990. The program will have a capacity of about 600 students, but probably will start out smaller, Carpenter said. Students would be drawn from throughout Los Angeles County, he said.

Will Serve 500 Students

The High School Conservatory at El Camino College would eventually serve 500 to 550 students from six South Bay districts--Centinela Valley Unified High School District, South Bay Union High School District, and El Segundo, Inglewood, Palos Verdes Peninsula and Torrance unified school districts.

Students would attend their home high schools and take advanced classes in the visual and performing arts at the conservatory, according to the grant proposal.