Parents continue to protest open door policy in Oak Park schools
By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

Every spring, the Oak Park Unified School District Board of Education must review policies pertaining to incoming transfers and overall attendance. Since last December, many parents have made it abundantly clear that they don’t want outside children attending Oak Park schools.

Once again, parents have criticized open enrollment. Many denied at last week’s board meeting that they have prejudices. They said instead that they want to build a stronger community.

At the meeting, Oak Hills Elementary School introduced a workshop to the board that seemed to be very important to Principal Tony Knight and his students. The workshop is called "Small School, World View: Raising Global Citizens." World View is available to connect kids with people and things outside of their own community.

Parents have applauded the program, although they bashed the idea of out-of-district kids coming into Oak Park schools. They didn’t feel this was the same "world view" as offered in the Oak Hills workshop.

Many parents observed open enrollment in other districts and said that it doesn’t work. Kids don’t get along, they said, and fight with each other.

Some parents said they want smaller schools. Board president Jim Kalember said it would be nice to have smaller classrooms, but added that it wasn’t likely. Fewer kids equals fewer programs. The state funds public schools based on attendance; money is disbursed based on average daily attendance.

Last Tuesday, the board approved changes in inter-district policy.

The board agreed to establish current enrollment as a baseline; attendance can go no lower than the baseline. If it does, transfers will be accepted. While the revised policy covers kindergarten through 12th grade, the anticipated decline and corresponding inter-district enrollment applies primarily to kindergarten through fifth grade. "It’s not really open enrollment," said assistant superintendent of human resources Bob Fraser. He explained that transfers will be limited. Openings will be decided not only on room size, but also program "seating" availability. Once that’s decided, students who wish to transfer must apply and will be accepted, based on previous attendance and behavior.

Parents asked if inter-district kids will be guaranteed future openings in Oak Park. According to the policy, all inter-district applications will be submitted and renewed annually.

It’s very possible, Fraser said, not to renew an application, if available openings decline. Just because a nonresident child gets into Oak Park schools doesn’t guarantee that the same student will complete an OPUSD education.

"We believe this [policy] revision gives the district the educational flexibility and fiscal responsibility to maintain the high quality programs we offer all our students," said Fraser. "In a high achieving district facing increasing strains of resources, we owe it to all students to move from growth mode to maintenance mode responsibility."

Inter-district transfer applications have already been received by OPUSD. According to Superintendent Marilyn Lippiatt, OPUSD can’t discriminate regarding districts from which students were previously enrolled. Applications have come from Las Virgenes, Conejo Valley, Moorpark, Simi Valley and Los Angeles unified school districts.

Parents at last week’s district meeting said they’d volunteer more time if it meant closing enrollment to other districts. They were strong in their beliefs, but they didn’t want a loss in school programs.