Kindergarten Classes Will Not Be Combined

Bowing to parental pressure, trustees of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District voted this week not to combine kindergarten classes at three district elementary schools.

The decision, which will cost more than $500,000, means that the district’s budget reserve is likely to fall below state-mandated levels.

“It means there will be no money for anything else for the rest of the year,” said Trustee James M. Ferryman, who voted against the measure. “It makes me very nervous.”

Trustees Jim de Boom and Serene R. Stokes also cast dissenting votes, both citing concerns over the district’s budget.

The district had proposed combining classes at Adams, Kaiser and Mariners elementary schools, where kindergarten enrollment was lower than expected. The plan would have freed three kindergarten teachers to fill positions at other grade levels. The district now must hire teachers for those jobs.

Dozens of parents opposed the plan, saying that it would disrupt the children’s education.

“Leave the kindergarten alone,” advised Chris Ludlow, the parent of an Adams kindergarten student.

Four of the trustees, Edward H. Decker, Martha Fluor, Judith A. Franco and Wendy Leece, acknowledged that it would cause a financial hardship but said that they were confident they could find a way to cope.