School Boundaries to Stay Unchanged

Parents in the Orange Unified School District will not have to worry about their children being affected by school boundary changes for another year. But those who choose to send their children to a new math-science-technology magnet school this fall should be prepared for some long lines.

District trustees have approved a committee report recommending that the now-vacant McPherson School be reopened as an elementary magnet school this fall, a move designed to help ease districtwide overcrowding.

The committee of administrators and parents left the decision on how to choose the student body until a future meeting.

The school initially will serve kindergarten through sixth grade but will include seventh and eighth grades within two years. The students will follow a traditional September-to-June schedule for at least its first year.

Committee members concluded that students should be entered on a “first-come, first-served” basis, although that did not sit well with the trustees.

“I’m concerned about this business of having parents get up early and stand in line,” Trustee Robert H. Viviano said. “The image that is projected is not very professional.”

Several trustees said they would favor a lottery selection system.

Assistant Supt. Neil McKinnon said the committee considered a “first-come” system more fair.

“I’ve been the principal of a magnet school, and I’ve walked the line at 3 a.m.,” he said. “The nice thing is everybody is happy and everybody feels that is the most fair and equitable way.”

In a further effort to cope with overcrowding, a separate committee decided to delay any boundary changes in the district until the 1998-99 school year, giving everyone a full year to consider the issues, said Bill Flory, director of planning.