Panel Airs Dispute About Switch of School Systems

Strong opposition surfaced this week to a proposal by a group of La Canada Flintridge residents to transfer their neighborhood of about 1,000 houses from Glendale to La Canada schools.

More than half of about 325 people who attended a hearing Monday on the proposal appeared to oppose it.

During the hearing before the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization, a Glendale group presented 950 signatures on a petition opposing the transfer, which could involve up to 240 students.

Speakers accused proponents of wanting to improve their property values and said the transfer would threaten to close Glendale’s Mountain Avenue Elementary School, which has won recognition for academic excellence.

Amid claps of support and mild jeering from both sides, supporters of the transfer contended that the existing city and school boundaries separate cul-de-sacs in the affected area, causing children who live at the opposite ends of the same street to attend schools in different districts.

“The residents of La Canada are torn between city and school,” said Carole Siegler, vice president of the governing board of LCUSD. “This is truly a community issue. What is best for the students should be the bottom line.”

One La Canada resident blasted the Glendale school board, which has opposed the annexation, for circulating thousands of flyers warning parents that students could be forced to change districts.

“I’m incensed to hear that the Glendale district is having budget problems when they’re spending money to print 10,000 flyers opposing the transfer,” said Bob Tanabe, a resident of the disputed area.

Glendale school officials said that the flyers were meant only to notify parents of the two public hearings.

The 386-acre residential area being considered for annexation is bounded by Foothill Boulevard on the south, Ocean View Drive and Pickens Canyon on the west, Highrim Road on the north and Rosebank Drive on the east. The disputed area was incorporated in the city of La Canada in 1976 but has been a part of GUSD since 1936.

The group supporting the annexation calls itself the Sagebrush Committee, referring to a stand of sagebrush that once separated the neighborhood from La Canada. Sagebrush members petitioned the county committee last November. They gathered the signatures of 51% of the roughly 1,450 registered voters in the affected area favoring annexation, 26% more than committee’s requirement.

After the two hearings, the committee will vote on whether to call an election on the issue and, if so, what area to include in the voting.

The second hearing is to take place Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Palm Crest Elementary School, 5025 Palm Drive, La Canada Flintridge.