Elementary facility’s opening spurs talks
By Linda Lou
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
January 26, 2008
SAN MARCOS – Some Paloma Elementary School parents breathed a sigh of relief while others fretted after learning more about the district’s proposed attendance boundaries for the upcoming school year.
Many parents agreed Thursday night that the school had too many students, but those whose children could be moved elsewhere showed signs of reluctance. San Marcos Unified School District is considering attendance boundary changes because it will open Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary, 653 Poinsettia Ave., in August and needs to redraw attendance boundaries. District officials also want to reduce overcrowding at its larger elementary schools, such as Paloma, Discovery and San Elijo.
A domino effect would ensue as some schools lose students to neighboring schools. Eight of the district’s 10 existing elementary schools, and San Elijo and San Marcos middle schools, could be affected under the proposed attendance boundary changes for the upcoming school year. Knob Hill and Twin Oaks elementary schools won’t be affected.
Attendance boundary proposals
About 450 students from Alvin Dunn Elementary and 200 students from Carrillo Elementary might go to Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary, which opens in August. Paloma Elementary could lose about 220 students to Alvin Dunn. Discovery Elementary could send about 100 students to San Marcos Elementary. These students would then go to San Marcos Middle instead of San Elijo Middle. San Elijo Elementary could lose about 200 students to either Carrillo or La Costa Meadows elementary schools. If they go to La Costa Meadows, some students would be moved from La Costa Meadows to Carrillo.
In 2010, once San Marcos Elementary undergoes a major makeover, about 120 students from Richland Elementary could be sent there. A districtwide committee of parents, teachers and administrators will begin tackling the proposal Wednesday. It’s expected to make recommendations to the school board March 10. The board would then vote April 15, and affected families would be notified at the end of April. More than 50 Paloma parents attended a presentation about the proposed changes Thursday. They learned that about 220 students who live in an area between the schools could be attending Alvin Dunn in August. The area is bounded by South Santa Fe Avenue/Mission Road to the north, Community Drive to the west, just east of Vallecitos De Oro to the east and state Route 78 to the south. Paloma has about 1,150 students. Dunn has more than 900 students but is losing 450 to Leichtag. Parent Mark Zukowski said the revisions seem logical based on distance, but his daughter may now have to go to Dunn. READ ENTIRE UT ARTICLE
