RESIDENTS OPPOSED TO SCHOOL; SITE TO SERVE PROBATION TEENS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Neighbors are up in arms about a proposed school for teen-agers furloughed from juvenile probation camps.

The 54-student community education center, operated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, is scheduled to open in October at Avenue P-8 and 10th Street West on property that is now a church.

``These are kids already convicted of things. I feel they should be in an isolated area,'' said resident Sue Clark, 49, who noted there are three elementary schools, an intermediate school and the Antelope Valley Mall within a half-mile. ``Parents shouldn't have to fear for their little kids. The little kids will be intimidated. To the younger kids, they shouldn't have to be in fear.''

The school, which was earlier proposed for downtown Palmdale but relocated after city opposition, is scheduled to open without any public hearings, because the city zoning ordinance was rendered inapplicable to allow it, officials said last week.

The site is within city limits, but the nearest homes are in the unincorporated Desert View Highlands area.

Palmdale School District trustee Sheldon Epstein, who lives near the school site, said he has asked his board to discuss the project at the next meeting and will ask fellow trustees to oppose it.

``I don't oppose the concept. The concept is valid. I strongly oppose the location. The facility should be in an area not near schools and homes,'' said Epstein, who used to work for the county education office. ``These are students coming out of camp who have been arrested for burglary, car theft, gang violence and selling of drugs. I'm concerned it will be a magnet to draw other minors who might have run-ins with the law.''

But county education officials insist that such a school, which is scheduled to open in mid- to late October, would make for a safer community and would not lead to a decline in property values. The students it would serve live in Palmdale, officials said.

Since April 1997, the county has run another school just like it at Division Street and Avenue K-8 in Lancaster, serving between 50 to 60 youths. About 40 percent of the enrollment are teen-agers from Palmdale, said Margo Minecki, a spokeswoman for the county education office.

The county education office, through its juvenile court and community schools division, runs 52 schools throughout the county, some at juvenile halls, some in the camps and the majority in community education centers, Minecki said.

``These students are community members as well. These programs provide structure for youth who are at risk,'' Minecki said. ``These are structured programs that we believe promote community safety.''

The schools do so by offering comprehensive educational services, individualized teaching and training, and school-to-career programs to help students make a positive change in their lives and move on to become contributing members of the community, Minecki said.

Clark said these students should be allowed that second chance but should do it somewhere else, away from where she and her neighbors live in west Palmdale.

``They all deserve a chance. Give them a chance out of a populated neighborhood,'' Clark said.

Most irksome to some residents is that they were not notified of plans for the school and were not given a chance to voice their concerns.

``I believe the county should have brought the community into the process, especially the impacted areas,'' Epstein said. ``It almost appears to be they are circumventing any type of communication because they are afraid to notify the community they are putting convicted felon youths in the area.''

County officials say they have been working with the city to find a suitable location and have proceeded with Palmdale's cooperation.

No public hearings have been held by the city because the county Board of Education adopted a resolution last November, setting aside the city's zoning ordinance to allow the county to open the school.

``The city of Palmdale does not consider the opening of a public school an appropriate use of a conditional use permit and prefers that the board set aside the zoning ordinance,'' said a staff report accompanying the resolution.

``Our agency does not exercise this authority without the full cooperation of the city,'' Minecki said.

Mayor Jim Ledford said the county has been working through the city's planning department.

``They are going to go somewhere in the community. We will work with them on the site that they could evaluate,'' Ledford said. ``I think as a community, these types of facilities are part of our community. The siting isn't always simple. As a a city we've tried to work toward a site that possibly could work.''

When told of residents' concerns, Ledford called them ``valid,'' and said: ``We have an obligation to completely look at the issue and what other options are at our disposal, review of this proposal or other possible sites, what level of discretion do we have.''

City planners said the county had previously considered sites downtown and in a shopping center in the 2200 block of West Palmdale Boulevard. City officials opposed the downtown site, and the shopping center was dropped for unexplained reasons.

The community education center students are required to attend the school as a condition of their release from probation camp, Minecki said.

``Technically, they are on a 30-day furlough. They are under the tight supervision of probation department,'' Minecki said.

After the 30-day period, probation officers, school representatives and parents meet to decide what the youth should do next. The majority of the students at the Lancaster facility return to regular school, Minecki said.

Other students may stay longer than the 30-day period if, for instance, it's mid-semester, it's summer and their regular school is not on a year-round schedule, or if it's decided it's better for the student to stay longer in the county school, Minecki said.