Focus Groups Discuss Potential Elementary School Changes

With a tight budget in store for next year, the board of education of the Las Virgenes Unified  School District is spending the summer working with focus groups to brainstorm possible changes for Sumac, Willow and Mariposa elementary schools.

More than 100 Agoura Hills parents and community members discussed the future of each school at a series of meetings in May and June. 

"[The sessions were] lively and productive, and they produced some innovative and exciting ideas for possible change," said Rose Dunn, director of elementary education. 

Sandi Pope, a fifth- grade teacher at Willow and president of the Las Virgenes Educators Association, suggested a dual-immersion program at Sumac to best meet the needs of students growing up in a multicultural society.

The most common inquiry from group participants concerned whether the three schools would be combined, Dunn said. Sumac and Willow have seen a decline in enrollment over the last 10 years, she said.

Although many ideas were proposed, including the designation of Sumac for grades K-2 and Willow for 3-5, as well as bringing the Mariposa Elementary School of Global Education program to both campuses, Dunn stressed that decisions were far from being made.

"Our ultimate goal is to implement any changes gradually and over an extended period of time," said Dunn. "Above all, we are developing methods to best meet the needs of our students, and these focus groups have provided invaluable information as we proceed."

The groups' recommendations will be presented to the board of education for the 2011-2012 school year. 

A smaller, representative focus group composed of teachers, parents and administrators will continue to meet four to six times in the next six months to develop more concrete proposals.