Ultimately, Students Pay the Price

Parents naturally seek the best for their children. So it was no surprise when parents at Van Nuys and North Hollywood high schools fought proposals to switch both campuses to year-round schedules in an effort to reduce overcrowding. The parents--most of students in magnet programs--won their fight earlier this year, but the consequences won’t be truly felt until school starts next month.

Several hundred ninth-graders set to enroll at the two schools in September may instead be bused to Birmingham, Taft and Reseda highs because it’s expected that there will be no room for them at Van Nuys or North Hollywood. Continuing students and new students with siblings already at the schools are not affected. Nor are students in the schools’ magnet programs. Slots at the two schools will be assigned by lottery. The decision to remain on a traditional schedule was made by the school’s local councils--part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s effort to give more control to parents and teachers. The councils disagreed with the district’s predictions about an influx of students caused by a reorganization program that now sends ninth-graders on to high school. Parents and teachers argued that the schools could accommodate the new students.

They were wrong. And hundreds of students will pay the price. Starting high school is among the most difficult transitions young people make. Starting high school in a strange neighborhood makes the change even tougher. Although the alternate schools are relatively short bus rides away, the trips only add stress and gobble time. Granted, some kids will benefit from the programs offered at schools such as Taft, but others will no doubt suffer.

In the end, the district may force the two schools to convert to year-round schedules anyway--meaning the councils’ victories would be temporary at best. Year-round school is a pain for parents, teachers and students. But rather than share that pain, the Van Nuys and North Hollywood councils chose to let the next wave of students and parents bear it alone. It’s tough to blame parents for wanting the best for their kids. But what about their neighbors’ kids?