LOS ALAMITOS : Panel Will Review School Boundaries

Trustees of Los Alamitos Unified School District have decided to form a panel to review last month’s decision setting attendance boundaries for the district’s two middle schools.

The eight-member panel of parents, trustees and administrators will consider whether to change the board’s Feb. 21 decision to use a major thoroughfare linking Seal Beach and Los Alamitos as a boundary for McAuliffe and Oak middle schools.

Trustees said using Los Alamitos Boulevard/Seal Beach Boulevard was the easiest way to establish a boundary for the two schools because it slices the school district in half.

The district serves Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Rossmoor.

Some parents contend that the boundary would create two unequal schools--a “rich” Oak and a “poor” McAuliffe--and unnecessarily separate students who have attended elementary schools together.

In addition, the parents say the school board disregarded the findings of a citizens’ group formed last year to study the boundary issue. The group recommended a different configuration for the two schools.

“I do not think boundaries make schools,” said Trustee Del Clark on Monday. “But I support a review to see if we can reach a compromise.”

Assistant Supt. David Hatton said the panel will meet Thursday and Friday and will submit its recommendation to the school board before March 20.

Under the boundary the board approved last month, students living east of Los Alamitos/Seal Beach Boulevard will enroll at McAuliffe. Those on the west side will attend Oak.

Sixth- and seventh-grade McAuliffe students living west of the thoroughfare may choose which school to attend next school year.