SANTA PAULA : Residents Address School Grounds Use

Residents will hand out flyers today explaining the types of activities allowed on the grounds of Isbell Middle School in Santa Paula, school officials said.

Trustees with the Santa Paula Elementary School District decided to print the flyers after several large weekend gatherings left the school grounds covered with food wrappers, broken glass, empty beer bottles and diapers.

In English and Spanish, the flyers state that the district is “concerned with the health and welfare of the people using our school grounds and the care and upkeep of the grounds and school.”

It also states it is against the law to drink, gamble, possess drugs, carry weapons or operate as vendors on school grounds.

Local organizations such as the Santa Paula Health Coalition and the Santa Paula Youth In Action have distributed more than 500 flyers, said City Councilwoman Laura Espinosa, who is helping with the effort.

Espinosa said she and other residents plan to hand out flyers today at the school grounds at South 4th Street and Harvard Boulevard.

District officials said they hope the flyers will change the behavior of residents using the school grounds during weekends. If trash continues to pile up in the next two weekends, trustees said they will close the facility.

The board of trustees will meet Aug. 17 to discuss the issue.