Parents Share Opinions on Schools’ Boundaries

ALISO VIEJO — Hundreds of parents packed the Aliso Niguel High School theater Monday night to voice their opposition or support for a proposal to change attendance boundaries for the school year that begins in September.

The boundary changes would affect 25 of the Capistrano Unified School District’s 32 elementary and middle schools. Supt. James A. Fleming also proposes to close Newhart Elementary School, which shares a campus with Fred Newhart Middle School, and make the entire campus a middle school.

The proposals are intended to help relieve crowding. Capistrano Unified, with 37,600 students, is the third largest and possibly the fastest growing school district in Orange County. In September, 2,400 new students enrolled, nearly a 7% increase, Fleming said.

The parents appeared divided on proposals Monday night.

“Do not close any elementary schools,” Joan Stratton told the board. “Such a decision would be reckless, short term and a mistake.”

But parent Kristin Dolen said she supported “Dr. Fleming’s recommendation. With the changes, everybody will be on the same playing field.”

Most of the proposed changes involve transferring students from crowded campuses to underutilized ones and moving some sixth-grade students to middle schools. Fleming said the goal is to get the maximum use of every campus.

He added that except for students at Newhart Elementary School, others affected by the proposals are “actually going to go to a school that is closer to their home.”

The district will open Wagon Wheel Elementary School and Las Flores Middle School in the fall. In the last five years, Capistrano Unified has opened 10 other new schools and purchased or leased nearly 200 portable buildings.

But Fleming said new schools cannot entirely solve the problem.

“This is for the long term,” Fleming said of the recommendations. “This is so we don’t have to do this every year.”

The school board is expected to vote on the proposal Feb. 24.