School board asked to join debate over El Toro

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- The Newport-Mesa Unified School District may be forced to

take a political position on the El Toro airport controversy.

Although the district previously considered the airport a city issue,

several residents brought their concerns about the possible expansion of

John Wayne Airport before the school board last week. If the proposed

airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps base is derailed, the threat

of a bigger John Wayne increases.

Though the board has not decided if it will take a position on the hot

topic, at least one board member is already opposed to becoming involved

at all.

Ann Watt, a parent of two children at Eastbluff Elementary School, asked

why school districts south of here have spoken out against El Toro and

Newport-Mesa has not been active in fighting a potential expansion of

John Wayne.

She said three school districts -- San Juan Capistrano Unified, Irvine

Unified and Saddleback Valley Unified -- joined forces with a coalition

of South County cities that are fighting against an airport at El Toro.

The South Orange County Community College District will consider joining

the group Monday.

“I think our concerns are the same as South County. If [John Wayne]

expands, how will this affect our children?” said Linda Wooter, who has

children at Mariners Elementary School. “We have a lot more schools in

North County -- it certainly should be looked at.”

Watt argued that scientists have found that loud noise, such as airplanes

taking off and landing, impairs school children’s ability to learn.

School districts in South County have been using this argument to fight

the airport in their area.

“But there are no schools within a three-mile radius of El Toro,” Watt

said. “We currently have eight public schools within a three-mile radius

[of John Wayne].”

A study compiled by Tom Anderson of the Airport Working Group, a Newport

Beach organization that supports the conversion of El Toro and fights

against John Wayne expansion, outlines the number of schools surrounding

each airport with a six-mile radius.

His calculations show there are no schools within a five-mile radius of

El Toro, whereas John Wayne has three schools within a one-mile radius

and 25 public and private schools within a five-mile radius of the

airport.

Dennis Ashendorf, a member of the Airport Working Group, said he doesn’t

think the schools should become involved in the debate. However, in case

the board does decide to take a position, he wanted members to be aware

of the facts.

If the conversion of El Toro to a commercial airport is blocked, the

expansion of John Wayne is inevitable, Ashendorf said.

“Twenty-four-hour operation [at John Wayne] will create stress for

children and the overall diversity of people living here, which may not

be in the schools’ best interest,” he said. “I live in Newport Beach -- I

chose to live under the airplanes, but not 24 hours a day.”

As the battle over which community should bear the burden of air traffic

continues, the school board must decide if it should become involved.

“Generally, the school district stayed out of it because we have our

plate full,” said Supt. Robert Barbot. “On the other hand, our board is

political.”

Board member Judy Franco said she hopes the board will delve into the

issue.

“I think we need to look and have an in-depth understanding of the

potential expansion of John Wayne,” she said. “Our schools have existed

where they are in the present configuration. If that were to dramatically

change, as is outlined by alternative El Toro plans, it would be of great

concern in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.”

Most board members felt more information was needed, while others felt it

was best left to the city.

“I don’t want to get involved with it as a school board,” said board

member Jim Ferryman. “We’ve got a possibly sensitive bond issue out there

and I don’t want to take a position that could alienate people.”

The board has begun to look into the effects and implications of both

projects, Barbot said.