MEETINGS TO FOCUS ON SCHOOL OPTIONS.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

Whether sixth-graders should attend elementary or middle school campuses is one of the topics being discussed tonight and Saturday as school officials continue planning for growing enrollment.

One of the plans, similar to one that drew criticism from parents when proposed a few years ago, is among a handful of options under consideration as officials narrow in on choices for handling enrollment spikes expected in two years.

``We're going to make the best decision for our district,'' said Janice DiFatta, president of the Simi Valley Unified Board of Education. ``We're hoping we can come up with a solution the district can afford.''

While the school district has been able to handle the enrollment boom for this coming year, it's the 2000-01 school year that is beginning to cramp the 27-campus district.

The school district's facilities master plan committee is working to meet an August deadline to submit its suggestions for handling the anticipated increase in schoolchildren.

The district expects it would need about 160 elementary and middle school classrooms over the next decade to handle increased enrollment.

Among the suggestions for sixth-graders are keeping the current system, which allows sixth-graders the option of attending an elementary or middle school; having all sixth-graders remain at elementary campuses; or shifting all sixth-graders to middle schools.

A 1992 plan to send all sixth-graders to the middle school was reversed after parents complained and an election changed the makeup of the school board.

On Saturday, the board of education will meet during a special study session that will include a discussion on the middle school alternatives, DiFatta said.

``That's not because we're focused on that. That's not because it's our top choice,'' she said. DiFatta added that the board will discuss the proposals more fully with public input after the facilities committee presents its report in August.