Bonsall schools move forward for unification

Bonsall elementary school students may not have to attend a Fallbrook High school, according to Jefrey Schleiger, superintendent of the Bonsall Union School District.

On December 15, the Bonsall Union School District Board voted to notify the San Diego County Office of Education they intend to unify and build a high school. Schleiger says a recently completed reorganization feasibility study concludes they meet the nine criteria necessary to attempt unification. The next step is to meet with a public relations firm experienced in guiding school districts through the process. Based on preliminary findings, Schleiger says they will have to get petitions signed by 25 percent of the voters living inside the Bonsall school district boundaries in order to proceed.

Unification could take up to five years

It will take a minimum of three to five years for the unification process, Schleiger says. Building the high school facilities would follow that. “We are currently counting on our charter high school to be our high school. If and when we’re able to unify, that will be our lead into the high school.” The charter high school has an enrollment of 96 students but their curriculum is not as comprehensive as Fallbrook Union High School’s, particularly in the area of electives, and their sports programs are different. While they don’t have a football team, they focus on equestrienne events with a rodeo and gymkhana. One of their 2004 graduates is a state rodeo champion. Most important, though, are the academics. The high school does offer all of the US and California State University required courses. “Our kids qualify for scholarships just like other kids.”

Once unified, the Bonsall district will differ from Fallbrook’s districts because it will contain both elementary schools and a high school. Fallbrook operates each of their school districts independent of each other. With regard to Fallbrook’s plans to build two more high schools, Schleiger says, “It’s a race against time. If we unify we get approximately one-sixth of their assets because we’ll take about one-sixth of their students back.” Fallbrook High School District presently has an enrollment of 3,000 students, which is why they are planning new schools. “The optimum size of a comprehensive high school to support a variety of programs — and at the same time not be too big and unwieldy — is 2,000 students,” said Chet Gannett, FUHSD assistant superintendent for business services, at a presentation of the FUHSD master plan in December. The Bonsall High School’s eventual goal is 1,000 students, Schleiger says. “We do very well academically, and that’s the board’s motivation for unifying,” he adds.

Population growth warrants comprehensive Bonsall school

Schleiger believes population growth in the next decade will enable them to put together a comprehensive high school. “We’re having more sixth-graders entering the middle school than eighth-graders going out. Our projections indicate within the next three years we’ll have 800 students going on to high school instead of 500.” By the time they are ready to build their high school, Schleiger believes the enrollment will be at 1,000. The Bonsall district is 88 square miles and serves students in Pala, the housing development along I-15 and those living within the Oceanside city boundary near North River Road and Vandegrift where Bonsall West Elementary School is under construction. The Bonsall school district includes Oceanside addresses because school district boundaries were drawn up in the 1800s before the cities and unincorporated communities came into being. Now a political structure of governance exists, with entities refusing to relinquish power.

Students residing along the I-15 corridor attending the new Fallbrook High school planned for the area would have the option of continuing their education there or transferring to the new Bonsall high school. Incoming freshmen would automatically enroll at the Bonsall facility. “Our board believes we can provide equal or better education opportunities for Bonsall kids,” Schleiger said. They do not now have a site, but the Bonsall high school might also be in the I-15 vicinity. “If the unification goes through, we would have access to the 55-acre parcel on Gird Road owned by the Fallbrook High School District,” Schleiger said. “Under a certain set of circumstances that could happen,” said Chet Gannett, “but it’s not likely.” The Gird Road property is owned by the Fallbrook Union High School District and is considered it an asset which could be built upon, traded or sold in preparation for its own school needs.

Smaller enrollment and unique construction

Schleiger says the Bonsall high school enrollment will be smaller. Current research indicates huge high schools should be broken into smaller groups so that kids don’t get lost, he says. The right number would be 500 to 600 students. For example, a school the size of FUHS, now at an enrollment of 3,000, could be broken down into 500-student learning communities. If those are the ideal numbers, Schleiger contends, “why wouldn’t a high school enrollment of 500 be good as well?” By the time they have their school ready for occupancy, Schleiger believes, the enrollment will have reached 1,000 students, or two learning communities.

In light of state education cutbacks, private bonding and funding other than tax-based income might be necessary to go forward. They are also looking at lower-cost construction models such as schools that go up instead of out — foregoing a traditional sprawling campus for high-rise or all-steel frame modular units that can be easily modified to suit classroom needs.