A controversy has arisen at Ocean Beach Elementary School as declining enrollment at the K-4 school has shrunk, prompting authorities to reassign two least-tenured kindergarten teachers, one of whom is on pregnancy leave.
Some 50-plus parents and students protested outside the school at 4741 Santa Monica Ave. early in the morning of Oct. 5. Carrying signs, handing out leaflets and chanting “Keep Our Teachers,” they decried the decision to lay off two kindergarten teachers due to an unforeseen decrease in enrollment.
“Our children are thriving at OBES thanks to an exceptional teaching team,” said Jaimie Holcomb, a parent of a second- and third-grader at the school. “The district (San Diego Unified) denied our school’s open choice options for enrollment, forcing many students to enroll elsewhere. We know how many families want to be at OBE, and they were denied. Why?”
Holcomb was displeased that the district didn’t give automatic enrollment to last year’s OBE preschoolers.
“Why have a preschool program if the children aren’t allowed to continue at our school when we have the space?” noted Holcomb, adding, “We are only 11 students away from having the correct ratio to keep a teacher. We will now have combo classes in all grade levels.”
OBE principal Marco Drapeau has answered parents’ concerns in two emails sent out to parents and posted on the school’s website, obelementary.com.
“I want to assure you the Neighborhood Schools and Enrollment Options office followed California Education Code and district policy and procedure in the processing of all CHOICE applications,” Drapeau said. “The Neighborhood Schools and Enrollment Options Department was highly responsive to our enrollment needs by immediately releasing all wait list names upon my request.”
The elementary school principal pointed out that all 35 families that applied for OBE as their first choice are attending OBE. He added no letters were sent to existing CHOICE pupils, only to new applicants.
“The only scenario where a currently enrolled pupil would receive a letter would be if they moved out of the attendance area in the prior school year or if they moved out of district and then applied via CHOICE to remain at the school per district enrollment policy,” Drapeau said.
As to why children who attended preschool at OBE were turned away from enrolling in OBE kindergarten, Drapeau said, “Out of 25 preschool students, 16 enrolled at OBE. The other nine chose to attend different schools. No preschool families who applied to attend OBE were turned away.”
Holcomb pointed out a new apartment complex with mostly three-bedroom units, “perfect for tons of families to move into,” will open soon near the school.
“If we have to excess two teachers and have classes at full capacity, we will not be able to accommodate the new students moving into our area,” Holcomb argued. “OBE is an excellent academic school, with a thriving community. Give us a chance to allow our choice kids the option to come. This will save a lot of heartache and protest.”
Holcomb contended that a higher-grade teacher will now have to leave an entire class that has been established and teach kindergarten.
“Then their class will have to be split up; all other classes will too,” she argued, asking, “Do we really want combo classes in every grade?”
Drapeau noted the new apartment complex referenced by Holcomb is within the Loma Portal, not the OBE boundary. As such, he said, “residents of the new apartment building may apply to attend OBE through CHOICE but aren’t guaranteed placement.”
The principal said there is a plan in place for students transitioning to their new classes.
“I have a solid and strategic plan that seeks to minimize disruptions to the fullest extent possible,” he said. “Every effort will be made to ensure the least number of changes will be made. Any change will be the result of careful consideration and staff collaboration. There will be a few classrooms that do not change at all and others with just a few changes. Teachers will work to make the change a positive one and will welcome any new students enthusiastically.”
Noting a decrease of about 70 school-age children residing in OB, Drapeau pointed out that:
• 7 students are choosing to attend new charters.
• A significant number of families moved out of the neighborhood last school year.
• There was a decrease in new enrollees during the last school year.
• This fall, approximately 20 k-4 students were CHOICED to different schools.
• 9 preschool students also CHOICED elsewhere.
• There was a significant decrease in walk-in fall enrollment.
Drapeau said students will meet their new teachers on Friday, Oct. 16 and line up with their new classrooms on Monday, Oct. 19.