Students decry campus conditions

Marisa O’Neil

Corona del Mar High School has a serious rat problem and aides in the

special education classrooms are too overworked, students and parents

told Newport Mesa Unified School District board members Tuesday

night.

“We want to bring the kids out of this disgusting room,” said

senior Brittany Malone, who spoke to the board along with fellow

senior Courtney Rychel. “Please do something about this. Come spend

one day in the classroom to see the disgusting environment they’re

studying in.”

Brittany and Courtney were among three students, along with senior

Claudia Mendoza, who collected 500 student signatures in three days

asking the board to take care of the problems in the special

education classes.

The teachers are so overworked they have had to give up lunches

and conference time, Claudia told the board.

Complaints did not stop there. Parent Greta Anderson-Davis, who

has removed her child from the special education program, stood

before the board and said that the rat problem is campus-wide and not

limited to certain classrooms.

Leslie Connell, another parent, echoed Anderson-Davis’ comments by

relating that she saw a rat on the campus earlier this month while

she was speaking to a teacher there.

Supt. Robert Barbot sought to calm parents and students’ concerns.

“We know there’s a rodent problem,” he said. “We need to bring

extra help and special attention to it. I don’t think we can

eliminate it, but certainly can do something better than we have done

in the past.”

The problems in the special education classrooms went public

earlier this month when the parents of 14 of 16 special education

students in a Corona del Mar High class kept their children out of

class to protest what one called the “controlled chaos” of too few

teacher aides and a classroom infested with rodents and cockroaches.

Parents and school district officials have met to discuss the

problem.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, Brittany said Corona del Mar’s

students strongly backed the special education classes.

“The school definitely supports the special ed. department 100%,”

she said. “Mrs. Thatcher [Suzy Thatcher, the special education

teacher] has her hands full. She’s the one who keeps the program

together.”

Claudia is a member of “Best Buddies,” a group that brings special

education students together with their mainstream counterparts.

Brittany and Courtney both volunteer time with the special education

students.

Anderson-Davis said she was pleased the students brought the issue

before the school board, which, she argued, will now have to deal

with the students and parents’ concerns.

Barbot said the district also would ensure the special education

classes have enough aides.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.