New Boundaries to Affect 119 Oak Park Students

The board of the Oak Park Unified School District has voted to redraw school boundaries so that only 119 students will be affected.

Before an audience of more than 80 parents, the board on Tuesday unanimously adopted a boundary change that is expected to affect fewer than one-fifth of the 1,027 students who attend the district’s two elementary schools.

The new school boundaries, which were supported by most parents who spoke at the meeting, will go into effect when the district’s third elementary school opens in September, 1993.

Of the 119 students who live in areas where school boundaries will change, 28 will be in fifth grade during the 1993-94 school year. These students will have the option of remaining at their current school rather than transferring during their last year of elementary school, said Harriett Ramsey, assistant to Supt. Susan Hearn.

The remaining 91 students affected by the changes are in kindergarten through second grades and will be in first through fourth grades when the new school opens. They will be able to attend any school they choose in the district on a space-available basis.

The new school is expected to open with only 261 students, 70 more than the minimum enrollment of 191 necessary for the district not to lose money on the facility, Director of Administrative Services Stanley Mantooth has said.

Enrollment at the school is expected to climb eventually to 465, with most students coming from areas in Oak Park that are now being developed.

Meanwhile, enrollment at Oak Hills Elementary, which was built for 450 students but now has 542, is expected to drop to 478 students when the new school opens.

Brookside Elementary School, which has 485 students, is expected to have 545 in the fall of 1993.