Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate Loses a Teacher, Classes

Rancho Santa Margarita did not meet its enrollment projection for the 2011-12 school year and has elminated six classes from its schedule. About 300 students will undergo a schedule change beginning today, according to a message sent to families by Principal Dr. Richard Jameson.

Three classes, English 8 honors, Science 7 and journalism, are year-long classes that were eliminated. A PE 7 (three trimesters), PE 8 (two trimesters) and Step Math (one trimester) were also erased from the chalkboard.

Jameson said that class sizes would be only modestly affected; English 8 Honors classes will increase in size by about five students, and physical education classes will increase by about three. Although the journalism class has been dropped, "the teacher will work with the students publish a school newspaper, both print and electronic, as an extra-curricular activity," Jameson said.

Mike Mayoral, who taught at El Toro High last year, took a voluntary transfer to return to that school. This is not unusual; schools routinely make adjustments based on enrollment figures; two years ago, Jameson said, the school added a teacher.

"It's been my experience that after a day or two, the students adjust," Jameson wrote in his message. "Then a few days later, the adults do too and RSM returns to normal (if there is such a thing at a middle school)."