PLACENTIA / YORBA LINDA : School Board Acts on Boundary Changes

After several weeks of vehement opposition to proposed new school boundaries, the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Trustees has taken the first step toward approving the changes.

The unanimous board on Tuesday preliminarily approved the plan by Supt. James O. Fleming that has sparked argument since it was introduced May 4.

Most of the controversy is focused on the transfer of Brookhaven Elementary School’s non-contiguous attendance areas to four other elementary schools. By approving the transfer, the board reduces Brookhaven’s attendance from 536 to 366.

The board also approved a grandfather clause giving affected students the right to continue at the school, a move school officials claim will keep the school’s attendance close to its current level.

However, the district will no longer provide transportation, a move some parents say effectively eliminates the grandfather clause.

“I feel in my heart that kids bused to Brookhaven won’t continue there,” said Debbie Stoneham, whose son is bused three miles to Brookhaven. “You say I can use the grandfathering clause but for how long? If enrollment goes down, are you going to close the school?”

Parents of Brookhaven students have been lobbying the school board to put aside Fleming’s recommendation and keep the school intact. They cite the school’s strong Parent Teacher Assn., high level of parent participation and strong test scores as proof that the school is successful.

“Brookhaven is a school that works,” said Mindy Glatstein. “Why is this fact so unimportant?”

Fleming said the transfer of Brookhaven’s non-contiguous areas is consistent with the district’s policy of maintaining neighborhood schools.

“Those students were bused out of their neighborhood, past other schools, to Brookhaven which is three to four miles away,” according to Fleming. “Many of them are within walking distance of local schools.”

Fleming’s plan also changes the attendance areas for Glenview, Tynes, Rio Vista, Mabel Paine, Morse and Fairmont elementary schools. However those changes occur in mostly undeveloped or industrial areas that school officials say should not affect students.