DISTRICT BOARD MAY CUT CHOICES 5 SCHOOLS WOULD BE AFFECTED BY CHANGE.

Byline: Angie Valencia Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Enrollment projections for the 2004-2005 school year show a districtwide increase of about 600 students from the current year, prompting officials to begin weighing options for addressing overcrowding in schools.

Simi Valley Unified School District trustees on Tuesday will consider the elimination of school-of-choice options at Atherwood Elementary, Big Springs Elementary, Katherine Elementary, Township Elementary and White Oak Elementary, effective in September.

With the school-of-choice option, parents can enroll children in schools outside their district boundaries.

School board President Steven Gould said if the board approves the recommendation, it would better serve the students in the long run.

``The enrollment cap will not affect students currently attending those schools,'' he said. ``Parents will understand that eliminating school of choice will be advantageous because the classes won't be as crowded.''

Regardless of the outcome, the district's remaining 20 elementary schools will continue to offer parents an option.

Township Elementary had between 20 and 30 students last year who attended the school as a result of the school-of-choice option, said Principal Philip Ross.

According to Ross, district boundaries don't always provide the easiest walk or closest route for the family or child, which is why some parents look into alternate schools. Other factors, he said, such as finding schools closer to a caregiver, are also important to parents.

``It's nice having that choice,'' Ross said, ``but the first thing principals look into is you want to have room for students in your own neighborhood first.''

Trustees will also consider the addition of portable classrooms at Township, White Oak, Sinaloa Middle School, and Simi Valley and Royal high schools.

School officials say much of the growth is expected to occur in the 2004-2005 school year.

The growth is the result of numerous development projects in town.

Atherwood will be impacted by the Big Sky Ranch Project, which will add 771 homes, and the Sycamore Shade Condominiums, adding an additional 108 units. As a result, trustees will also look into boundary changes for Atherwood and Sycamore Elementary, effective in the 2004-2005 school year.

Big Springs will be affected by the Marr Ranch project. A relocatable

classroom proposed at Township this summer could help accommodate the overflow from Big Springs.

The development of the Parker Ranch project, which will have 191 homes and 324 apartments, has caused officials to also consider boundary changes for Katherine and Santa Susana Elementary.

The school board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road.

Angie Valencia, [phone]

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com