The Temecula Valley Unified School District school board is weighing its options in a proposal to shift middle and high school boundaries.
District officials say there has been a slow but steady turnout at several community meetings held to discuss the proposed boundary changes that will affect incoming sixth and ninth graders in the next school year.
According to the board’s summary of proposals, the change would reduce home-to- school transportation time for middle and high schoolers, reduce transfers, plan for further growth in certain areas and balance enrollment. Its current high school boundaries are based on the construction of a fourth high school, which has been delayed for a minimum of five years.
The number of community members attending each of the three meetings held by the district thus far has been 20 and 30 people per meeting, according to Melanie Norton, spokesperson for the district. The last two meetings are scheduled for Oct. 14 and Nov. 4.
“It is a crucial time for people to come forward. We wouldn’t want people coming out of the woodwork after the Governing Board has voted in January,” Norton said. “There are still some board members who are undecided and are hoping to hear more feedback.”
According to Norton, it is an emotional issue for many parents.
“People who are against the change are very passionate about having the boundaries remain the same, like those with students currently going to Chaparral but would be switching to Temecula Valley,” Norton said. “They have suggested we grandfather in entire families.”
Other residents expressing concern are those who live in the neighborhood of Crowne Hill. Located near Butterfield Stage Road and Highway 79 South in Temecula, its students currently attend Vail Ranch Middle School and Great Oak High School, but if the Governing Board proceeds with the changes they would be redistricted to Temecula Valley High School.
Jeri Ognjanac, president at Crowne Hill Elementary PTA, said she plans to voice her concerns at the Oct. 14 meeting at Vail Ranch Middle School. Her seventh grade son would have to attend high school apart from the core group of kids he has grown up with, and her fifth grade daughter would go on to middle school with the same kids, but then be split up in high school.
Ognjanac said even though her kids were younger when they moved to Crowne Hill from Orange County, part of the reason they chose the neighborhood was because of the schools.
“But ultimately, it’s not an issue of which is the better school; it’s about the kids. My kids are worried. These are kids they have played football with and we’ve carpooled with for years. These are their best friends,” Ognjanac said. “I want my kids to go with them.”
As any other parent might be, she said she is concerned about her kids having to adjust to a new school and group of friends during their teenage years.
Even though most of the parents coming to the meetings are opposing the changes, a small minority of residents support them, Norton said.
“The ones that really want to see it happen live in French Valley,” Norton said.
French Valley students would be able to attend Chaparral High School. They currently drive past Chaparral every day to get to school at Temecula Valley.
A summary of proposals along with maps of the possible boundary changes are available in pdf format on the district’s Web site, as well as a full list of streets to be impacted by the change.
The proposal for middle school boundaries includes one option, whereas the high school proposal gives the board and community five options. Of the five options, only the third option would leave the boundaries as they are, with students in Crowne Hill attending Great Oak.
The district is encouraging parents to attend one of the two final community meetings, to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 14 at Vail Ranch Middle School, and at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Bella Vista Middle School.
The board plans to discuss and review community input during November and December, and take action by Jan. 19.
Sibling transfer issues are also addressed in the proposal, and the district wants to give parents the time to apply for transfers. Applications for intra-district transfers will be accepted Jan. 20 through March 1.
Maggie Avants is the education editor for SWRNN. Comments or story suggestions can be sent to mavants.swrnn@gmail.com.
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Wow. I wonder how the military child has survived moving every three years to one year.
Get out of your bubble Crowne Hill, it is a Global World now not just all about the OC factor. It is COMMON SENSE to look at any MAP and know Crowne Hill was only included untill Morgan Hill and Wolfe Creek and Red Hawk (around Great Oak) got completed. Everyone that bought in Morgan Hill, Wolf Creek and other KNEW Crowne Hill would be on the chopping block in the future. Sorry OC wife and mother but you needed to do your homework of future economics.
Wow, Ivana!
First let me say that I’m a proud American and fully support our military. It seems to me that a family that makes the military a career fully understands they will move often throughout their career. Plenty of other Americans choose to settle down in a community, build a family and grow within their community. I’m not sure how your rude comments relate to what Mrs. Ognjanac voiced as a concern. Living in a community and wanting your children to continue to go to school with their best friends seems like a reasonable desire to me.
I applaud Mrs. Ognjanac for her commitment to the community. Taking on the role of President of the PTA is a serious commitment of time for the betterment of our children. Very few people are willing to give up their precious time to take on such a big commitment.
J
I would need to agree with Ivana. We looked at North, Central and South and knew from living in other cities that schools change boundries all the time. I am sure within a few years OC transplants will have Temecula Valley completely renovated, and the tax bracket in Central will go from 1 to 2.5 percent to pay for the upgrades of granite in the bathrooms and tile floor in the hallways hopefully they will put in a usable Olympic size competive pool and not a kidney shape one. I think Jeffrey needs to read, Who Moved the Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson. There is nothing challenaging about PTA president (Serious Commitment ?) at Vail Ranch, that made me scratch my head and laugh. Try going 7 months to one year separation military deployment from family. In this educated debate, I think Ivana said nothing rude, but stated facts.
WOW! WOW! I’m really surprised at all of the comments!! Just because Mrs. Ogjanac said she was from the OC she is being stereotyped!! I, for one, being a parent of a middle schooler and an elementary student would NEVER take on the roll of PTA President! It is a very time-consuming job!! I’ve served on several PTA committees and know what a President does! And, i know that CHES is succeeding not only because of its principal and teachers, but because of its PTA, parents and students! And, to top it off, everyone is allowed to their own opinion! It will be interesting to see what happens w/the boundaries in the long run… in any event, I believe TVUSD is a great school district overall and I will be happy at whatever school my children attend for middle school and HS!
Everyone seems to be getting off track. I would like to point out that this woman from Crowne Hill is just stating her personal opinion and is trying to do what makes sense for HER children. Regardless of where she moved from (jealous much?) it really doesn’t matter! If she is willing to be on the PTA Board of any school, that requires at least 20+ hours of work that she DOES NOT get paid for; she is doing this for our kids! It is a serious commitment! A lot of PTA board members also work full time. If you have such a strong opinion, why don’t you volunteer your time at your children’s school as well. Finding people to work on any non-profit board is difficult itself, especially in this economy. So, if this woman from OC with all of her $$$ you are assuming she has, chose to move here and is donating her time for our kids, I say “You go girl!” I think the point that is trying to be made here, is that everything is not all about academics in the teenage years. Social responsibility and accountability are equally as important and I think that is what her concerns are. All of our schools in Temecula are amazing. (That is a big reason why people move here, believe it or not!) Not only because of their academic achievements but because of parent involvement as well.
Dear Ms. Ivana,
I found your “COMMEN SENSE” comment toward the PTA President extremely harsh considering you are a military wife ~whose family has decided it was in their best interest, and the interest of their country to fight for freedom. Maybe, you have to live in Temecula and be near Camp Pendleton in order to support your husband. But, as a Temecula Valley, Crowne Hill PTA, Military Supporting Mom, let me tell you this… the people I know in Temecula have chosen to live here! … The people I know have picked their communities based on their families values. Whether you are at Great Oak, Chapparel or Temecula Valley, you are living amongst a community that truly works hard to sustain the accomplishments of the entire city of Temecula. As a military wife, you have embarassed our community, the military, and volunteers everywhere if you believe that as a free, democratic, society we do not have a right to voice our choice in our children’s academic futures. Please do not speak for me!
Signed,
A proud Temeculan with a voice!
First and foremost when did this go from a discussion about school boundaries to a discussion about where the people that live here came from? It is obvious to me that Ivana and Jeff are not from Orange County and have a really bad taste for people that are. I think you need to remind yourselves that had it not been for all those families from the OC moving out here, your city would not be thriving the way it is.
As for Ivana and her rudeness, are you serious Jeff? Just the use of all her capital letters is rude. FYI, that means yelling when you type.
I don’t think Jeffrey was trying to compare anything to the separation you have from a military deployment. He was just commenting on the amount military families have to move, as was Ivana. Jeff if you were talking about yourself going 7 months away from your family, I personally would like to thank you and your family for that sacrifice.
However, I don’t think it is fair to say that what Ms. Ognjanac is doing as PTA president is laughable. I know how many hours it takes to make a PTA work for a school. Unfortunately with the school budgets we have these days a lot of funding has to come from the PTA. All those fundraisers that come home with your children and those school carnivals and dances your kids enjoy so much, all are put on by the PTA and it takes quite a bit of work. I think you owe Ms. Ognjanac an apology.
Now putting the transplants, the kidney shaped pools and the PTA aside, I believe all that Ms. Ognjanac was doing was making a statement that came from the heart of a mother. All she is trying to do is what a mother should be doing, protecting her children. So if someone wants to criticize her for that then I hope you don’t have children of your own.
Jeff from GOHS and Ivana, what in the heck are you talking about? Military, kidney shaped pools, granite counter tops, Orange County, Mrs. Ognjanac’s volunteerism for the PTA??? How is the introduction of all this, which is completely irrelevant, jermaine to the core conversation? Mrs. Ognjanac’s comments about “her” choice for “her” kids to go to a school which was originally planned by the city, is her right and choice. Don’t try to discredit her by introducing all of this irrelevant diatribe. Suppose you made a choice to buy a new hous and move, only to find out that a few years later, the rules have changed? Wouldn’t you be a bit upset? Mrs. Ognjanac’s comments about her children and all they reasons why she wants them to go to GOHS, are important to her and her family. Don’t try to discredit her individual opinions with your own personal feelings about OC, PTA, or granite countertops. When was the last time either of you volunteered for anything that positively affected your or others children and brought value to our school systems? I suppose you’d be the first ones to complain if our school didn’t have a PTA or some outside voluntary support.
When we bought our home 6 years ago we were told your children’s High School would be Chaparral then we were told they were building a new High School for our children in French Valley both didn’t happen. The year before my son was to start High School I went and stood in line the first day open enrollment came up to make sure he went to the school of our choice which was Chaparral. I feel for the students of French Valley they didn’t get the transfer or have to be bused all the way to TVHS I find that ridiculous.
As for these new parents complaining about their kids getting split up or not attending the school of their choice all I can say is it’s your turn to wait in line for open enrollment it’s one day and isn’t so bad you can keep your kids together if it means that much to you.
I have lived in the Crowne Hill community for 10 years. I believe we have paid higher property taxes than communities such as Paloma Del Sol or Paseo Del Sol, whose distict boundaries have always required them to attend TVHS. Therefore, it is my understanding that one of reasons for the higher tax base in Crowne Hill and Redhawk is to support the construction of new schools and roads, etc. Just when I have an 8th grade student ready to attend one of those new schools (GOHS) the boundaries will change!!!?? Really?? TVHS is a good school, however they do not offer the same academic programs as GOHS. Is anyone else concerned about the tax base issue? Is my understanding of it correct? Has anyone else researched this issue? I am not from OC and I am very concerned about how this proposed boundary change will impact my 8th grader’s academic and social future in high school.
I would like to site an error in this article.
According to the TVUSD website, there are five (5) options being proposed. Option #3 states boundaries remain as they currently exist. Options #1, #2, #4, #5 include Crowne Hill community as being moved to TVHS.
The article states that option #5 allows Crowne Hill community to stay with GOHS, but that is not the case. Option #5 actually states, “All areas -except E would remain with GOHS”. Area E is Crowne Hill.
I think it is important that people in the Crowne Hill community know that 4 of the 5 proposed options include the Crowne Community being moved to TVHS.
The only option allowing Crowne Hill to remain at GOHS is option #3 which states “HS boundaries to remain as they currently exist”.
So basically, it is an all or nothing deal. If there are boundary changes at all, then Crowne Hill will be redirected to TVHS.
I love Temecula. I was born in San Diego, raised in Newport, schooled at Stanford, and raising a family and working in Temecula. Temecula does not exist because OC moved into the area, it is a combination. We live on Pauba outside of Crowne Hill and my wife was forwarding news on boundary changes. As we are not effected, yet. Temecula is a growing community, and changes are reflected in the demographic growth. I am still trying to figure out your taxes, Tony Tobin, Bella Vista and French Valley are not in Temecula City district but Riverside County. Everyone (Temecula) is 1.0 tax for schools, Crowne Hill is extra for road and park only. I do not understand why everyone is jumping on Ivana and Jeff, they are just giving opposing views as French Valley Parent, and it opens the doors for thoughts. Because most of the others went off on a tangent on PTA tells me that is was written by the same person. I was a PTA president for many years, and it is no big deal. It is more of gossip network. Smart Card, Fall fundraiser, Teacher support luncheons, Winter, Spring festivals, Teacher appreciation. I would need to agree with others on this one this did as a business person make me laugh. But I know that Temecula lives in a shelter world. I have military friends, and from what I know a true military wife would NEVER tell another military wife she was upset, I think they call it Semper Fi. The would just use opposing educated views. But since Ivana did not say she was military and she would of because they like to shout it out, I think you were wrong. I think everyone is upset because it is hitting them they have little control over the school board.
I think after Jeff they are all written by the same person, which in fruitless. I grew up in Newport and went to school at Stanford and more school on the East Coast. Temecula is a stepford wives community affraid of change. It is a bubble. Temecula is a combination of many and not of OC. A military wife would never belitter another, I believe they call it, Semper Fi. They would just say, I have a different view. I have been a PTA president of a much larger district. It is no big deal. You would need to be a complete dropout not to be able to handle the postion. I love Temecula, but some of these people do need to travel more.
FYI, I only wrote 1 comment above; i don’t believe all of them are from the same person. I am one individual who posted my comment/ opinion. FYI also, i attended last night’s meeting @ VRMS re: the boundary changes and was surprised to see only a handful of parents there to voice their concerns about the proposed changes. And, regarding PTA president… Melinda or Cyndia (looks like you are the same person??), i am glad your roll as your PTA president wasn’t a difficult or time consuming one. I stick to my opinion that I would think it is, as it was time-consuming enough serving on many different PTA committees and like someone else above stated WITHOUT PAY (our choice to help our children). I look forward to hearing what the school board discusses at their Dec. 8th meeting. And, fyi, it was pointed out last night that the concerns/ questions/ comments from the 5 public meetings they have (or will hold; there is 1 more left I believe) are posted on the tvusd website! More reading and comments ahead I’m sure…
I did move to Crowne Hill mostly for the schools. We did spend our time checking out what schools our children would attend before we bought our home. We used to live in another neighborhood in Temecula where the elementary school wasn’t so great. All the kids in the old hood are either going to private school or transfered to another school. I love Crowne Hill Elementary and was definitely planning on our children attending Great Oak. Sorry if I want my kids to have the best public education possible.
Wow. I would like to apologize to Mrs Ognjanac for those who felt the invitation for comments was on her personally and not the School Boundary Issue. I have an opinion on the school boundary issue although this is obviously not the correct forum.
As a parent at Crowne Hill I would also like to thank her and all the other volunteers for their PTA service.
As a parent at Crowne Hill, I am appalled by some of the comments against Mrs. Ognjanac. The problem that everyone is missing is that Crowne Hill is being asked to move children for only the high school, which is poor logic since Temecula Middle school is adjacent to Crowne Hill. If the School Board had any kind of common sense, it would redistrict Crowne Hill for both the Middle and High School. This way, our children will attend high school with the same children as the middle school. It’s either that or leave it alone. That’s the point that everyone here who doesn’t live in Crowne Hill is missing!