Paramount : Committee Advises Schools to Start Year-Round Classes

The Paramount Unified School District should begin year-round schooling in July, 1993, to reduce classroom overcrowding, according to a report from a district advisory committee.

“The district is increasing at about 3%, or 250 to 300 students, a year and several schools are filled to capacity,” Assistant Supt. Robert Cosgrove said at a recent board meeting. “We are at the point of putting up portable classrooms to accommodate the extra students, but we only have so much room and this takes away from playground space and puts a strain on other school services.”

The report, released last month, is the product of a committee of parents, administrators, city officials and community members. The committee also studied alternatives to year-round education, such as a bond measure to raise money for new schools and school days with staggered starting times.

Committee members said the advantages of a year-round schedule include better knowledge retention by students and more efficient use of existing buildings. A disadvantage would be that space for summer school and remedial classes would be limited in the district of 13,000 students.

The next step is a study on scheduling options, staffing needs and the cost of conversion, officials said.