Big Turnout Expected for Grant Hearing

Officials said Friday they expect dozens, if not hundreds, of teachers, parents and other residents at a public hearing Monday on a proposal that would prohibit Orange Unified schools from applying for any grant not related to academics.

All 36 campuses in the district would be affected, but the hardest hit would be Lampson Elementary School in Garden Grove.

Using a variety of grants, administrators and private agencies have offered health and counseling services to low-income students at the school. Such grants would not be cut off immediately but would not be eligible for renewal under the new policy.

Trustees will attempt to clarify some aspects of the policy, School Board President Martin Jacobson said, but are not likely to back away from the position of the majority: that schools are not responsible for providing social services.

“My impression is there are two very distinct philosophies here,” Jacobson said. “One that says schools are there just to educate, and one that says schools are responsible for the whole child. If that’s true, I don’t think there’s any compromise to be made.”

The issue has sharply divided the community and has been vehemently opposed by a number of private charities. Anticipating a large turnout for Monday’s 7 p.m. hearing, the school board has scheduled it at Portola Middle School, 270 N. Palm Drive, rather than at district headquarters.

No decision will be made Monday night, Jacobson said. A vote is likely, he said, at the board’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, at district headquarters, 1401 N. Handy St. Information: (714) 997-6221.