`MAKING HISTORY' GROUND BROKEN FOR CHARTER SCHOOL.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Guidance Charter School officials broke ground Wednesday for a $1.7 million campus on a vacant lot adjoining the Palmdale Boulevard mosque where the school now holds classes.

The school will start off with modular classrooms next school year, the first phase of a five-year plan that calls for creating 10 classrooms, an administrative building, library, computer lab and gymnasium.

``We are making history today,'' said Kamal Al-Khatib, the school's executive director. ``We are going to continue making history. This is our valley, this is our school. The Antelope Valley is one unit, and I'm very proud to be here with you.''

The groundbreaking ceremony drew officials from the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale and the Palmdale School District, which granted the charter for the school.

``It's an exciting thing to see a school being developed right here in downtown Palmdale,'' Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said. ``I'm here to congratulate you and say good job to everybody.''

Palmdale School District trustee Sandy Corrales commented on the school's test scores and diverse student population.

``When I think of Guidance Charter School, I think about a place where the entire community has a found a home,'' Corrales said.

Al-Khatib echoed Corrales' sentiments.

``See the school population,'' Al-Khatib said, referring to the youngsters in attendance. ``Look at the rainbow that you see. The school is for the whole community, not just for Muslims or Arabs....''

The school was started by leaders of the Islamic Institute of Antelope Valley, whose property it is leasing for classrooms. As a public school, it does not offer religious education.

The 1.4-acre parcel where the school will be built is owned by the American Islamic Institute of Antelope Valley. The institute got the 1.4 acres in exchange for five acres near 40th Street East and Palmdale Boulevard.

The new campus will hold up to 200 students.

The charter school, which shared the Manzanita School campus last school year, moved back this year to the mosque where it operated its first two years.

The school tried to establish a new campus on commercial property on Sixth Street East - formerly home to a cable company and electronics firm - but was unable to do so because of zoning regulations.

The Palmdale School District board declined in June 2004 to use its power to exempt the charter school from city zoning regulations that bar schools from the property.

Sharing the Manzanita campus did not go well. The Palmdale board took testimony in May 2004 on the issue. Parents and staffers from each school accused students from the other school of bullying, lacking supervision and discriminating.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Guidance Charter School Principal Marjorie Keene and Executive Director Kamal Al-Khatib talk to students at the site.

(2 -- color) Guidance Charter School students walk past the mosque where their classes are held now on the way to the groundbreaking on a lot next door for their new $1.7 million campus.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer