Group to Discuss Plan to Move School

The fight to save one school brought them together, and the fight to keep out another may bind them tighter.

At their meeting Thursday, the Midtown Community Council will address a number of neighborhood issues, including the Jameson School’s planned move from its current location in Ojai to a former dance school at 1718 Main St. in midtown Ventura.

Operated by retired dentist Angelo Elardo, the school serves troubled youths.

News of the school’s move has already provoked an outcry among neighbors in the midtown area.

Residents crowded into Ventura City Council chambers on Monday night demanding more information. Most of those who spoke opposed the move.

But in a step toward easing neighborhood friction, the midtown council invited a representative from the school administration to attend Thursday’s meeting, said Midtown Community Council Chairman Bill Barbee.

“They are saying these are special-education kids,” Barbee said. “We don’t want to take a moral position against these kids, because frankly they have been beat up everywhere they go--prejudged and worse.”

Barbee said the midtown council has not yet taken a position.

“We are still in an information-gathering place,” he said.

Also on the agenda for Thursday night are discussions about putting a police storefront in midtown and news on setting up a midtown fax machine, voicemail system and Web page.

The Midtown Community Council will host a forum Oct. 30 for Ventura City Council candidates.

The midtown council formed earlier this year after joining together in an attempt to save the former Washington Elementary School building.

The group addresses the interests and concerns of residents and businesses in the area bounded by Crimea Street and San Jon Road on the west, the Ventura Freeway on the south, the hillside on the north and Mills Road on the east. Thursday’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 65 MacMillan Ave.