HUNTINGTON BEACH : Performing Arts Academy Planned

School district trustees in Huntington Beach decided last week to open an Academy for Performing Arts in September at Huntington Beach High School.

Officials hope to enrich and strengthen dance, theater, singing and instrumental studies by concentrating resources at one school. Huntington Beach was chosen for the academy site because of its 701-seat auditorium.

Trustees also hope to end the drain of about 20 students transferring each year from Huntington Beach Union High School District schools to the performing arts academy at Los Alamitos High School.

The local district has reportedly lost about $280,000 in state revenue over the last four years because of student defections.

Academy classes will meet in the afternoon and after regular school hours. Students would have the option of attending their home school in the morning for academics or requesting a permit to attend Huntington Beach High full time.

Students may have to pay for their own transportation unless there are sufficient riders to pay for a bus that officials say costs about $60 a day to operate.

When it was unveiled in February, the idea of a performing arts academy was opposed by Fountain Valley High School parents and teachers who said a performing arts school would gut their acclaimed vocal music classes.

Parent Jim Turrell said recently that trustees, by their original intentions, were committing “cultural genocide” at Fountain Valley High by cutting top vocal programs and moving them to Huntington Beach High.

But district officials approved a last-minute compromise to permit Fountain Valley to retain three top vocal programs while adding a credentialed, part-time teacher for a theater class.

Dale Peroutka, another Fountain Valley parent, questioned the academy’s estimated cost of $150,000 in light of recent severe budget cuts.

“I respectfully request you get the money first and then talk about spending it,” he said.

Board President Jerry Sullivan said money is available. Plans also call for establishing foundations to seek grants and to work with officials in Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and Westminster--the three cities within the district.

Sullivan said performing arts classes “were decimated” by previous budget slashing and he is pleased programs can be revitalized.