A COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING THIS WEEK TO DEBATE THE RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ. A DECADE AGO, ENROLLMENT FOR SANTA CRUZ CITY SCHOOLS WAS DOWN 21 PERCENT. THIS RESULTED IN THE CLOSURE OF TWO SCHOOLS. SINCE THEN THE RATE HAS INCREASED 12 TO 15-PERCENT, LEAVING SCHOOLS OVERCROWDED. COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE VOTED TO RE-OPEN NATURAL BRIDGES SCHOOL AFTER WESTLAKE ELEMENTARY GREW 18-PERCENT OVER CAPACITY.
