BOUNDARY SHIFT AFFECTS SCHOOLS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Lancaster School District trustees have approved a shift in attendance boundaries that will move a quarter-square-mile area from Joshua School's attendance area to El Dorado School's attendance area.

Students who live in the area bordered by Challenger Way, Lancaster Boulevard, 15th Street East and Avenue J and who currently attend Joshua School can continue to attend that school if they want to, district officials said.

``We take students' and parents' needs into consideration and make it have a minimal impact on them,'' said Scott Smith, director of pupil safety and attendance. ``This actually gives them more flexibility. People currently living there have a choice.''

New students who move into the quarter-square-mile area will have to attend El Dorado School for the 2001-02 school year.

The board approved the attendance area change at last week's meeting. About 170 students live in the affected area, and a number of them are already attending El Dorado School through intradistrict transfers, Smith said.

El Dorado, which has a current enrollment of 730, is switching to a year-round schedule in the 2001-02 school year. It was one of two district schools that had been on a traditional schedule.

``We are freeing up room at Joshua. El Dorado is going year-round. That gives them more space,'' Smith said.

Joshua School has 1,071 students.

``The zone change will redistribute enrollment in a more balanced manner among the schools involved. Additionally, El Dorado School will have a higher enrollment to accommodate their new year-round schedule,'' a district staff report said.