The 49-year-old Anoakia School, facing a June deadline for relocation, has opted for local print advertising. Owner Lowry McCaslin apparently wants to develop the property at Foothill Blvd. and Baldwin Ave. However, the school also has numerous city fire code violations and a building that is not up to seismic standards. The school currently has 279 students from K-8th grade.
At a meeting of about 200 Anoakia School parents, directors of the school, which has operated on the former estate of Anita Baldwin for 48 years, explained the reasons the school wants to relocate after June 1990. Lowry McCaslin, who owns the property, wants to develop the 20 acre estate.
Arcadia Fire Chief Gerald Gardner says his department will recommend Anoakia School not be allowed to reopen this fall if safety deficiencies are not fixed. School owner Lowry McCaslin vows that everything will be taken care of.
The Anoakia School, soon to be renamed the Anita Oaks School, won a victory against staunch opponents of the relocation when the Duarte City Council unanimously approved the move to property owned by New Life Assembly of God Church.
Creative Academy of Learning, an Arcadia day care center, almost went out of business last year and now owes the Arcadia Unified School District 4 month back rent.
The Arcadia Christian School has leased the Santa Anita Elementary School which was closed due to declining enrollment. Article describes the school which expects 200 students this year ranging from pre-school through 8th grade.
Declining enrollment over the past few years has hurt the Arcadia school system financially, since income is based on attendance. The 1984-85 budget totals over $20 million. Last year the school district went $300,000 over budget. Cuts will have to be made to accommodate the finances for the upcoming school year, but they will mainly be made in areas outside the classroom.
The need for more volunteer aides is cited by District Librarian Mrs. Julie Dresdner. In the last three years, beginning at Camino Grove, library-media centers have been developed and are in operation at all nine elementary schools.
An informal committee of some 15 people was initiated by the Arcadia Historical Society in mid-September in an effort to preserve the old Anoakia School site, now that the school has relocated to Duarte.
Arcadia Unified School District will purchase 2 portable classrooms at well under the expected cost of $60,000 each. The classrooms will be installed at Hugo Reid Elementary School.