Foes Persuade Church to Shut School Sept. 15

The Euclid Street Baptist Church in Anaheim will close its elementary and preschool Sept. 15 to appease neighbors who have complained about noise and traffic, an attorney for the church said Tuesday.

The agreement with the neighborhood group came just minutes before the Anaheim City Council was to hear a request for an appeal by Anawood residents seeking to overturn a February council decision to allow a three-year phase-out of the school, according to church attorney Gregory W. Sanders.

Sought 3-Year Phase-Out

The church is moving to Anaheim Hills, where it plans to build a new sanctuary and school. Until the new school is completed, the church had requested--and received--a gradual phase-out of its current program, which the city attorney had earlier said was operating without necessary permits.

Now, the church instead plans to move its school to another church in Anaheim this fall until the new one is built, said associate pastor Don R. Simmons, who did not want to disclose the site of the temporary school until those neighbors are notified.

Meanwhile, a school for artistically gifted, mentally retarded people--believed to be the first of its kind in the country--plans to move into the Baptist church site next month.

Neighbors Welcome College

Earlier this year, the residents opposed both Hope University-UNICO National College and the church’s elementary school in their neighborhood. Now, they welcome the college as long as the church’s school moves out, said Julia E. Sylva, attorney for 40 families in the Anawood neighborhood.

“We’re really pleased. It’s caused so much emotion and distress to the residents,” Sylva said.