ANAHEIM : City School District OKs Plan for More Students

Officials with the Anaheim City School District have approved a plan to accommodate an estimated 825 new students next year, the second such increase in two years.

The six-point plan was presented to the governing board last week as a temporary approach to finding classroom space for the students.

District officials had hoped to find a more permanent solution to accommodate the new students at its 21 elementary schools, but the county bankruptcy forced the district to find a no-cost solution.

“Given the financial picture, we can’t afford more portable classrooms or more buses,” Supt. Meliton Lopez said. “We have to focus on the necessities of educating students, finding them classroom space. This was precipitated entirely by the bankruptcy.”

Under the plan, which goes into effect July 1 at the district’s 15 year-round schools, starting times will be staggered to allow the district’s bus drivers time to complete more routes.

The district will also try to get more use out of existing space. Rooms that are being used for work rooms and for storage will be used for classrooms and teachers at year-round schools will share classrooms with other teachers.

The elementary school students and parents also will be affected by the plan.

About 120 students from Adelaide Price school will be transferred to Sunkist and approximately 30 students from Sunkist will now attend Thomas Jefferson.

Three special-education classes will be moved from Sunkist to Jefferson, and some Gifted And Talented Education Program students might have to move to different schools.

Even if a resolution to the county bankruptcy is reached before the new school year begins, Lopez said, the district will still implement the plan.