School District Votes for Year-Round Schedules

The Long Beach Unified School District voted unanimously Monday to convert all district elementary and middle schools to a year-round schedule on July 1, 1994, to ease overcrowding.

The county's second-largest district, with about 71,500 students, has grown by more than 3,100 pupils since September, 1989. Continued growth could fill classrooms to capacity even before the plan takes effect, said Supt. Tom Giugni.

Teachers union and PTA representatives criticized the district Tuesday for making the decision without more comment from employees and parents. Long Beach joins a growing number of overcrowded districts turning to year-round schools, including Montebello Unified, Compton Unified and Los Angeles Unified, the nation's second-largest district.