MAYOR’S COLUMN -- GUY CARROZZO

During my time serving the residents of Fountain Valley as a council

member, and presently as the mayor, I have been approached numerous times

for information, requests or comments related to Fountain Valley’s

schools. My response has been the city and school districts are separate

entities.

To be more specific, there are four governing bodies. Marc Ecker is

the superintendent of the Fountain Valley School District. The Fountain

Valley School District Board of Trustees governs the majority of the

elementary schools within the city -- Courreges, Cox, Fulton, Gisler,

Masuda, Moiola, Newland, Oka, Plavan, Talbert and Tamura schools -- but a

few of the district’s schools are within Huntington Beach’s city limits.

Ocean View School District, headed by Supt. James Tarwater, has one

school, Vista View, in Fountain Valley. Fountain Valley High School, on

the other hand, is part of the Huntington Beach Union High School

District, which includes Fountain Valley, Edison, Huntington Beach,

Marina, Ocean View, Westminster and Valley Vista high schools. These

schools are led by Supt. Susan Roper and the Huntington Beach Union High

School District Board of Trustees. Some of these schools are in

neighboring cities.

Even though Los Amigos High is within Fountain Valley’s city limits,

it is part of the Garden Grove Unified School District. Laura Schwalm is

the superintendent. Northcutt, Monroe and Allen elementary schools in

Fountain Valley are also part of the Garden Grove School District.

Some wonder why it is so complicated. An attempt to simplify the

situation was made many years ago when the issue was put on the ballot,

but it failed. So when school matters are a concern for you, remember, it

is important to contact the appropriate school personnel.

Because I am a retired school principal, I do understand that many

times parents have a need to get answers as to the how, what, when, where

and why things are as they are.

However, keep in mind city government has no jurisdiction over the

schools within our city limits. Some Fountain Valley council members

serve on school district committees, but those committees are advisory to

the districts’ board of trustees. The city of Fountain Valley cooperates

with school districts on safety programs such as Drug Abuse Resistance

Education, Every 15 Minutes, safe routes to school and crossing guards.

Again, these are supplemental to the school districts’ programs.

I hope this information clarifies the distinction between the city of

Fountain Valley and the school districts governing schools within our

city. If you have questions regarding schools, their programs or

boundaries, here’s a list of contact information:

* Fountain Valley School District, 16210 Oak St., Fountain Valley, CA

92708 (714) 834-3255;

* Garden Grove School District, 10331 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove, CA

92640 (714) 663-6333;

* Huntington Beach Union High School District, 10251 Yorktown Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92646 (714) 964-3339

* Ocean View School District, 17200 Pinehurst Lane Huntington Beach,

CA 92647 (714) 847-2551.

As a footnote totally unrelated to our local schools, I wanted to let

our residents know photographs taken at the Summer Concerts in the Park

are on display in the City Hall lobby. Please stop by and, if you see a

photo of you or your family, you are welcome to take it home with you as

a memento of our Summer 2000 Concert Series.

* GUY CARROZZO is mayor of Fountain Valley.