AREA RESIDENTS OPPOSE ARMENIAN HIGH SCHOOL
By Cortney Fielding Staff Writer

Pasadena Star-News, CA
Aug. 23, 2006

PASADENA – Negative reaction to a new Armenian high school in Pasadena
has organizers asking "What’s so bad about a school?"

Residents in the Victory Park area have mobilized against the Armenian
General Benevolent Union High School, which they say will bring
significant noise, traffic and other disruptions to their neighborhood.

Members of the Mountain Park Villa Condominiums Homeowners
Association contend the AGBU kept them in the dark about plans to
open Sept. 12. They are now questioning the organization’s right to
operate on a site originally approved as a church elementary school.

"Teenagers are not little kids – they can cause a lot of noise and
mischief," said former association board member Loraine Bernstein.
"I’m very hesitant."

Fifty students in grades nine through 11 are already registered
for the private college preparatory school’s inaugural year, school
officials said. Administrators say they anticipate adding a 12th grade
and expanding to 100 students in upcoming years. The school’s permit
allows for up to 200 students.

The AGBU, a national social and educational organization that promotes
Armenian heritage, has owned the land at 2495 E. Mountain St. for more
than 10 years, but has rented much of the space to the Living Waters
Christian Fellowship, which operates an elementary school. They’ve
thus far used the building for social gatherings and group functions.

At a meeting with residents Monday night, AGBU Chairman Vahe
Imasdounian said he wanted to build excitement for the private school,
which he said will add to the quality and value of the neighborhood.

In addition to cleaning out and remodeling the building, Imasdounian
said the school will also see extensive landscaping, in addition to
being gated.

"Whatever it takes," he said. "We want to make this neighborhood
better and better."

But tensions mounted when neighbors peppered him and other AGBU
members with questions about where cars would park, where parents
would drop and pick up students, and how they would control teenagers
from walking through their property and causing disruption.

Residents also cited a decade-old incident that occurred on-site
during an AGBU party, when a fight resulted in reported gunfire,
and a security guard had to be hospitalized.

The incident, Imasdounian said, occurred "so long ago, and a lot has
changed since then."

He vowed to ensure the school, which will eventually cost $12,000 in
annual tuition, runs smoothly and causes no disruptions.

"Discipline comes first at our school," he said.

After the meeting, AGBU director Haig Messerlian asked homeowners
association president Karen Lindsey what was wrong about starting a
school in a neighborhood.

"The residents don’t want a high school here," she replied.

But Lindsey also said the meeting was a positive step toward opening
communication, and she would continue to work with the group. "It’s
a start, definitely," she said.