Ventura Proposal Would Shift Students to Ease Crowding

Hundreds of students from crowded east end schools would be shifted across town to Ventura High and other underused facilities as early as September, under a detailed proposal presented Thursday to the school board.

The boundary plan would chiefly affect students in three areas--the hillside community of Ondulando, a nearby neighborhood bounded by Foothill and Telegraph roads and Kimball and Petit roads, and a mid-town neighborhood south of Ventura College.

Those students would be moved from Buena High to Ventura High. Middle school students from some of the same neighborhoods would go from De Anza to Cabrillo.

The proposal marks the second time in four years that the Ventura Unified School District has tried to juggle its boundaries to accommodate an expanding student population--and the second time it has tried to move the affluent hillside community from Buena High.

School officials acknowledged the plan would probably ignite protests from parents but said that, with new development in eastern Ventura and no money to build new schools, the school district has little choice.

“We don’t have any money to add any more buildings,” Ventura Unified School District Supt. Joseph Spirito said, adding that overcrowding is a serious problem that could affect the quality of education, safety and staff morale.

Only a handful of parents attended the study session, where board members heard details of the plan developed by a committee of administrators, teachers and students. A public hearing is planned for Tuesday, and a final vote on the plan is set for Feb. 27.

Board members commended the committee for their hard work and seem to look favorably on the proposal. “It’s a rational and well thought-out proposal,” said board member John Walker, who led the fight in 1991 to keep the Ondulando community from going to Ventura. “Based on what I have heard tonight, I think it will pass.”

School officials said it is necessary to approve the proposal quickly, because students will soon begin registration for the next year.

“Why rush?” Spirito asked. “Students, parents and staff need to know where they’ll be attending next year. Orientation sessions have already begun.”

Students from the affected neighborhoods who are now in the 11th grade at Buena High would be allowed to finish their education at that school, under the plan. The proposal, however, would end a rule allowing siblings to attend the same school.

The boundary shifts--which would affect about 460 students--would only alleviate the crowding problem for about three to four years, school officials said. In March, the school district will begin a long-range planning process, which could include building new schools.

“We realize that this is going to take care of things in the short term only,” said board president Cliff Rodrigues. “In the long run we’ll have a lot of work to do.”

Enrollment in the district grew by 4% this year, an increase of almost 600 students, school officials said. The growth is most rapid in the eastern part of town at schools such as Buena High, and Balboa and Anacapa middle schools.

Buena, for instance, has 2,275 students, almost 600 more than Ventura High, a gap that is expected to increase. The same pattern is developing at the city’s middle schools.

Balboa has 1,199 students, compared with 1,000 at Anacapa Middle and 649 at De Anza Middle in the city’s west end. Enrollment has also been mushrooming at Sheridan Way, E.P. Foster, Serra and Saticoy elementary schools.

The result is crammed classrooms. Buena, for instance, has as many as 40 students in some classes. Gyms, cafeterias and other common areas at the schools are also constantly crowded.