Moiola's Fate to Be Decided Thursday

After months of deliberation by the Fountain Valley School District's School Boundaries and Closure Committee, and almost as much speculation by local parents, the Fountain Valley School Board will decide the fate of Fred Moiola K-8 School on Thursday.

For the last two months, Moiola supporters have passionately defended the school and its K-8 program ever since the committee suggested closing Moiola in October. The district is looking at closing the school to alleviate $400,000 of a $2 million budget deficit, a deficit that will only get bigger should Sacramento cut more school funding.

“Over the last three to four years we’ve had to cut over $7 million in our budget,” said Ian Collins during the October meeting. “Closing schools is always a difficult thing to do."

In November, the school board opened the topic of Moiola’s closure to the public in a special public meeting. The district has around 4,000 elementary-age students split among eight schools. Moiola is the only K-8 option within the district.