Newport Board Failed to Listen on School Split

I am a parent of a first-grader at Andersen Elementary School in Newport Beach. I am writing to express my discontent with the recent Newport-Mesa school board decision to divide the local schools into a K-3 and 4-6 arrangement.

I feel very strongly that our children should be able to go to a neighborhood school for K-6 and then to a junior high school, followed by a high school, instead of breaking up the grade school years.

My family moved to this area to be closer to the school and have our kids walk down the street to school. Also, I am a working, single mom and want to support the school activities as best I can. Now, with two children who are three years apart, I will be stretched between two schools.

The most aggravating part of this decision is that the school board did not listen to the parents at the school board meetings. There were no supporters of the split, parents and teachers included, and yet the board voted 4 to 3 against the K-6 plan.

MARTY BASTON

Newport Beach