By Andrea Papagianis
Capistrano Unified School District leaders will consider naming the first K-8 school campus proposed in the Rancho Mission Viejo development at a meeting Wednesday, January 8.
The CUSD Board of Trustee meets at 7 p.m. at the district offices, 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.
Trustee Jim Reardon suggested naming the school for the late Richard J. O’Neill. A local philanthropist, California Democratic Party chairman and prominent Orange County landowner, O’Neill and his family are largely credited with the development of the county’s ranchlands.
Starting in the ’70s, the O’Neill family ranch has been carved out for the developments of Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita and the 14,000-home Rancho Mission Viejo community, just east of San Juan Capistrano. O’Neill died in April 2009.
Members of the O’Neill family have not yet said whether such an honor would be accepted. Other monikers being considered include naming the school for nearby roads or pastures.
Residents are moving into Ranch Mission Viejo’s first of five planned development areas, Sendero. With about 1,200 homes, it will be one of the Ranch’s smaller villages.
An influx of nearly 4,500 students is expected once the development is complete, but only about 400 students are expected to come from the Sendero village. A K-8 site has been identified in the second planning area and is estimated to open in 2016 or 2017. For now, students from Sendero will attend Ambuehl Elementary School, Marco Forster Middle School and San Juan Hills High School.
View the full agenda below.
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