Position on the Orange County High School of the Arts

By Melissa C. Carr

Orange County High School of the Arts Raises Concerns.

Since its inception, OCHSA has impacted our schools and the community in several positive ways. It has drawn more attention to arts education at every grade and it has acted as a catalyst for students who were looking for a niche.

Perhaps the most pressing concern about OCHSA in our community is the overcrowded condition at Los Alamitos High School. Now is the time to remedy that situation.

While there are concerns about segregating the OCHSA students from the high school students, OCHSA cannot thrive at the high school. To keep it at the high school, its development would be stiffled. At such time as the campuses separate, I would embrace all programs that allow the two to share resources. Certainly the students benefit from their diverse life experiences.

As for the Bloomfield site for construction of the new OCHSA site, I share the community's concerns about this location. If elected, I would support a search for alternative sites within the district, but not necessarily on district property. Such an endeavor will require the support of the community.