Sites Studied for Classes for Expelled Students

Los Angeles school officials said Wednesday they are considering about 15 sites, including one in Woodland Hills that has drawn fire from neighbors, to house special classes for the growing number of students expelled for carrying weapons, being violent or possessing drugs.

The officials Monday had suggested sending about 30 expelled students to two classrooms at the former Hughes Junior High School in Woodland Hills, now used as office space for district administrators.

But the idea drew complaints from nearby residents who said they feared that the students would increase crime in their West San Fernando Valley neighborhood. City Councilwoman Joy Picus, who lives about a block from the school site, said she is adamantly opposed to the proposal.

“We moved to Woodlands Hills because it has a very low crime rate,” said Melinda Harrison, a real estate agent who lives in a cul-de-sac that faces the school. “It’s a frightening thought. These students were expelled for criminal offenses.”

West Valley board member Julie Korenstein said she is opposed to the Hughes site because it is at the western edge of the county, too far for most students to travel.

Barry Mostovoy, administrative consultant for school operations, said Wednesday that the Hughes school is one of about 15 closed schools and administrative offices being considered for use by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, which operates special schools for local districts.

Hughes was the only school mentioned during a school board discussion Monday night as a possible site. “Hughes was just one name that popped out,” Mostovoy said.

Mostovoy declined to name the sites but said they are divided between the San Fernando Valley and the rest of the district.

Because of a tough new expulsion policy for taking weapons to class, Los Angeles school officials expect to boot out as many as 250 students by June. Last year, only 41 students were expelled.

The county office operates 14 community day centers, where expelled students can earn high school diplomas while receiving special attention in smaller-than-average classes. But the Los Angeles district has used up its allotted number of seats in the county program and the centers are full.