Red County, California

At least two, possibly three, members of the La Palma City Council attended last night’s regular meeting of the Cypress School District Board of Trustees to show their support for keeping Steve Luther Elementary School open.

La Palma Mayor Mark Waldman spoke first during the public recognition segment of the meeting. Here is the text of his remarks:

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Good evening Cypress School Board Trustees. Tonight represents the second time that I have come before you, for essentially the same reason. Last year, I asked for your support on Senator Harman’s Bill to allow La Palma children living north of Houston Street to attend LaPalma schools. I stressed to you the unique importance of community to La Palma residents and how forcing our children into Buena Park Schools harms our children and community. Last year, you voted to refuse that support.

Now, I am before you once again because your consideration to close Steve Luther Elementary threatens the same fate to about 250 additional La Palma students. Three elementary school districts serve our 1.9 square mile City. One of those districts already has no presence in La Palma, and now the Cypress School District is considering becoming number two.

Last Tuesday, the La Palma City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing closing Luther Elementary School. In my opinion, while the language in the resolution reflects the outcome desired by Luther’s parents, it did not begin to adequately encapsulate the parents’ degree of anxiety. We fully realize that the Cypress School District would continue to educate our children. Nevertheless, the sense of community is so vital to the residents of La Palma that any other school in the Cypress School.District would not be an acceptable substitute.

When the City Council undertook the cause of parents living north of Houston Street, we were amazed at how many students were already attending public and private schools outside of the Buena Park and Fullerton districts. Even though you have not yet made a decision, many Luther parents are already actively exploring alternatives to the Cypress School District. As a business decision, the cost for lost students alone may evaporate most or all of your expected savings.

I understand that Steve Luther Elementary School has been invited to apply for California Distinguished School status. Congratulations to the children, school staff, parents, and the Cypress School District. As an elected official, I know how incredibly rewarding it is to be recognized for achieving excellence. The achievement of success is the only compensation we get for the time and money spent to seek and administer our offices. Now contrast that feeling with the dissonance of closing a school that exemplifies academic excellence, a strong school-community environment, dedicated parents, and a well-maintained and safe campus.

I profoundly hope that in the years to come, we are all engaged in continuing the tradition of excellence at Luther Elementary School.

(Minor editing for clarity.)

Also verified present from the La Palma city government: Mayor Pro Tem Steve Shanahan, who spoke briefly in a similar vein.

Approximately two dozen other supporters of Luther Elementary School attended the meeting, including parents and their students.

The Board of Trustees faces a decision made even more difficult because not one but two schools are facing closure at the end of the current academic year due to declining enrollment.

According to remarks by School Superintendent Sheri Loewenstein, the committee charged with recommending which schools in the District to close gave the most votes for closure to these schools:

A site meeting will be held for each school under consideration for closure, at which anyone interested may speak. All site meetings will be held at 6:30pm at the corresponding school.