VENTURA : Official Meets Foes of School Changes

Upset about a proposal that would redraw Ventura’s school boundaries and change where many children go to school, about 15 parents met Wednesday with the superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District to talk about the controversial plan.

The meeting was held at a home in the affluent hillside area north of Foothill Boulevard, where some of the most vocal opponents to the plan reside.

Although several parents invited a reporter to attend, Supt. Cesare Caldarelli said he would not talk in detail to parents if the media were present. Caldarelli was unavailable for comment later.

Before the meeting, some parents said they were upset because they bought homes in the area so their children could attend nearby Poinsettia Elementary, Balboa Middle and Buena High schools. The plan would transfer those children to Loma Vista Elementary and eventually to Ventura High.

Lynn Schneider, who asked the superintendent to attend the meeting at her home, said afterward that many of the groups’ questions were answered. School officials have said the plan is a draft and, if adopted, would not go into effect before the 1992-93 school year.

The school board approved a draft of the plan by a 4-to-1 vote on Tuesday. Board member John Walker voted against the plan. The draft will be available for discussion at four public hearings beginning in Feb. 20.