School Board to Reconsider Next Year : Simi Valley Kills Open Enrollment Plan

The Simi Valley Board of Education has turned down, for the time being, a proposal to open enrollment at all elementary and middle schools to any family in the city’s school district. The board voted unanimously Tuesday not to adopt open enrollment for the 1989-90 school year, but agreed to reconsider the proposal for the following year.

Board members said that approving open enrollment for 1989-90 would stretch resources in a year in which the district already plans to convert its four junior high schools into middle schools.

Trustees also said they want the district to provide parents with more information on perceived merits of open enrollment. Under open enrollment, parents are allowed to shop around for schools their children will attend. Students are now assigned to schools closest to home.

Encourages Involvement

Proponents say open enrollment encourages greater parental involvement and leads to innovation by teachers and administrators wishing to make their schools more attractive.

But several parents who spoke during the board meeting questioned the need for change.

Fran Shannon, one of six parents who voiced opposition to the plan at the hearing, said the district should concentrate instead on improving all schools.

“Why not bring the curriculum to the child instead of the child to the curriculum?” Shannon asked. She also said open enrollment would force parents to placate children who favor schools “for reasons other than education.”

“Rather than dabbling” in trendy policies, said Diane Collins, the school board ought to concentrate on “attracting quality teachers to teach, not compete.” Collins said the neighborhood school system could be improved by reducing class size.

Policy Recommended

Open enrollment received much public attention in June when the California Commission on Educational Quality recommended open enrollment as a way to “encourage schools to become more effective.” Minnesota recently adopted open enrollment statewide.

Also Tuesday, the board established priorities between two bond measures that will go before city voters in a special election March 7. In effect, the board agreed to force voters to pay for essential capital improvements before they can authorize borrowing for new athletic facilities.

One bond measure calls for $35 million for such capital projects as installing air conditioning at several schools and repaving driveways. A second measure would approve spending $8 million for gymnasiums at three of four junior high schools and for a sports stadium at Royal High School.

The board decided that passage of the second bond measure will be contingent upon approval of the first.