RESIDENTS OFFER INPUT FOR HART OFFICIALS PARENTS: MORE CLUBS, ATTENTION FOR STUDENTS.

Byline: Sue Doyle Staff Writer

STEVENSON RANCH - From classes to clubs, parents and community members Tuesday told the Hart High School District to balance opportunities for students at all levels and at all schools, so they all have equal chances to succeed.

For too long, the William S. Hart Union High School District has focused on higher-achieving students who score well on exams that help fuel school funding. Meanwhile, students struggling with classes and those who aren't college-bound don't receive the same attention, they said.

Plus, there should be as many after-school activities for students in the newer schools as there are in the older, more established facilities in the valley, said residents at the first of nine public meetings to be held this week by the district.

Information gathered at these strategic planning meetings will be used to help the district shape its direction and budget for the next five years.

And while parents commended the district's teachers, administrators and new campuses, their conversation focused on students and their needs at the first meeting, held in West Ranch High School's library.

``The high-level students get all the opportunity,'' Ted Rafalovich said.

The Santa Clarita resident said the district does not prepare students who aren't interested in college for vocational jobs and that their classroom needs are not assessed the same way as is done for honor students.

Even job-shadow opportunities for students encompass more executive positions than mechanical ones, he said.

Rafalovich wants more internships available to non-college-bound students, to expose them to more opportunities and help smooth their transition to the working world.

Parent Deanna Bloch said the district's math requirements at the high school level can be a real challenge for students trying to graduate but are lost in the proofs and theorems of classes such as geometry.

``There should be more courses required to help basic kids move on,'' Bloch said. ``You have those who get lost in the middle. The higher levels of math are too much for them.''

These kids need more classroom support with stronger instructors leading the lessons, but instead the district stacks the best teachers in rooms with advanced students, she said.

Others in the audience, about 35 people total, pushed for more after-school programs. Some said that when school lets out for the day, too many kids sit at home alone.

Parents recommended clubs that don't focus on athletics but be geared for those with other interests, such as video games or skateboarding. They said the groups would help students feel less isolated and would give them a sense of belonging.

Rekha Barbour, a parent from Stevenson Ranch, said these clubs can be formed with a handful of interested students. She then told the group that some ideas discussed at the meeting are really the role of parents, not schools.

``Schools are here to educate,'' she said. ``Our job is to do the parenting.''

Other recommendations included having CD-ROMs instead of heavy textbooks, teaching foreign languages before high school and relaxing the district's policy with online research.

Placerita Junior High will play host to these meetings at 10 a.m., 3:30 and 7 p.m. today.

Meetings happen at the same times Thursday at Sierra Vista Junior High in Canyon Country.

Sue Doyle, [phone]

sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com