Ocean View District to Explain School Changes

The Ocean View School District this week will hold informational meetings at each of its 17 schools on a proposed grade-level reconfiguration plan that has incited opposition from some parents.

District officials at the meetings will outline the plan, which would close Haven View School, convert four other schools into middle schools and revamp attendance boundaries. The plan, which would go into effect in September, 1992, would prompt about one-third of Ocean View’s 8,600 kindergarten-through-eighth-grade students to change schools.

Meetings are scheduled at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Golden View, Harbour View and Spring View schools. On Wednesday, 7 p.m. meetings are planned at Circle View, College View, Haven View, Hope View, Lake View, Oak View, Sun View, Village View and Vista View schools.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, meetings will be held at Crest View, Marine View, Mesa View and Westmont schools. An 8 p.m. Thursday meeting is scheduled at Star View School.

Information on the proposal, which the Board of Trustees will consider approving at its June 4 meeting, is also detailed in a newsletter being distributed to all district parents, Supt. Monte McMurray said.

Ocean View officials say the district reorganization is needed to make better use of its educational programs and services, in light of declining enrollment in past years. Parents and other residents who oppose the plan argue that changing Marine View, Mesa View, Spring View and Vista View to middle schools for sixth-through-eighth-graders would divide neighborhoods and dismantle strong academic programs at those schools.