Juan Soria School Site
At last, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will be considering the location of Juan Soria School in Oxnard this Wednesday.
It is extremely difficult for me to oppose the Emerson Avenue site chosen by the Oxnard School District, as I served as a trustee for many years. They are my friends over there. However, there are numerous appropriate areas within the city boundaries, and I feel that a greenbelt location outside the city and far from the students it would serve is the wrong place for the school.
The district tells us that it is in dire straits for classrooms. This is true, but they have solved the immediate problem already. The new Ramona School and improved Elm Street School will both open in the fall. Yes, the district has planned very well for additional students in the near future.
Meanwhile, plans can go forward for Juan Soria School within the city and close to the children. At least 10 locations are recommended, and smaller sites could be used for primary schools--a creative solution utilized in other cities to accommodate the early years with small class sizes.
The time may come far in the future when there are no locations within Oxnard for schools. We have not yet reached that time.
JEAN HARRIS
Oxnard
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