Private School Seeks Permission to Expand

Officials of Fairmont Private School, which plans to expand its enrollment, are seeking permission from the City Council to build more classrooms and enlarge its play area.

School officials want to convert an auditorium into nine classrooms to have room for 200 more students--a 50% enrollment increase--during the next three years.

The City Council today will hold a public hearing to consider the school’s expansion plans, which also include converting a portion of a parking lot area to increase the size of the play area.

The Planning Commission in March approved Fairmont’s expansion plans, but the City Council decided to set the proposal for a hearing today. Councilwoman Shirley McCracken expressed concerns about schools expanding in industrial areas.

Fairmont Private School, at 5310 E. La Palma Ave., which serves students in preschool through sixth grade, is in an area zoned for general industrial land uses.

In 1992 and 1994, conditional-use permits were granted to allow a school on the property. Fairmont has operated its school on the site since 1993.

David R. Jackson, executive director of Fairmont Schools Inc., said the school’s long-term plan is to build the nine classrooms, but for the coming school year, only six classrooms would be built.

Jackson said the school faces a dilemma if the council does not approve the plans because 75 new students have already been accepted for the next school year.

Currently, the campus on La Palma Avenue has 400 students and 16 classrooms. Fairmont Private Schools have been in Anaheim for 44 years and operate a total of five campuses in the city, including a junior high school and high school.

Jackson said he plans to ask the council today to continue the public hearing until May 20 to give the school more time to prepare its proposal.

The council meeting begins at 5 p.m. with the public hearing at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd. Information: (714) 254-5166.