Long Beach : Board Sticks by Boundary Change for Jordan High

The Long Beach school board recently realigned boundaries that would allow some Lakewood students attending Jordan High School to transfer to their hometown high school. The board stuck by its decision this week, despite portests from parents and teachers at Jordan.

Opponents said the boundary change would lead to white flight because most of the affected 184 students are from a middle-class neighborhood in Lakewood and will choose to leave Jordan High, which is in north Long Beach.

Supporters argued that Lakewood High is the logical school for their youngsters because it is closer to home.

The board acted on the boundary change during its recent budget cuts. At its April 30 meeting, the board eliminated bus transportation for about 600 students throughout the district, including 184 students at Jordan High. At the request of board member Karin Polacheck, who represents Lakewood High, a boundary change was tacked on to allow those 184 students to choose their home high school since bus transportation was no longer available.

Board member Jerry Shultz, who represents Jordan High, brought the issue back before his colleagues this week after Jordan-area residents and teachers complained. Shultz asked the board Monday to take another vote on the matter, but it died for lack of support. Instead, the board pledged to create a magnet program at Jordan to attract non-minority students there.