Irvine Co. Is Asked for Delay on School Pact

School officials are asking the Irvine Co. for a four-month extension to decide whether to accept a company agreement and enroll nearly 400 students expected from development along Newport Coast.

Facing intense community opposition, school trustees unanimously voted last week to delay a Jan. 30 deadline to May 30. Parents oppose the influx of students, fearing it would result in overcrowded classrooms in the district’s aging school buildings.

But school trustees say they have to thoroughly investigate the issue before deciding.

“There’s tremendous pressure just to say no and walk away from the whole deal,” trustee Steven Rabago said. “To ask the board to make the decision without enough information is ludicrous.”

School officials say they are obligated to enroll the students unless the district’s boundaries are changed so that the development lies in the neighboring Newport-Mesa school district.