Rival gangs may end up in same school

NEAR WEST PALM BEACH-- To ease over crowding at one school, ever so often school districts have to re-do school boundary lines to alleviate a school that may have too many students.

That's exactly what Palm Beach County school district staff voted to do Wednesday night, but some are concerned that rival gangs will now be together under one roof.

A preliminary vote was held to add two neighborhoods into the recommended John I. Leonard school boundary. The high school could take a few hundred more students right now.

The area subject to change is located on Forest Hill Boulevard east of Jog Road.

Specifically affected: teens living in the Casa Del Monte apartments and across the street at the Palo Verde apartments, where neighbors tell us two feuding gangs live.

CBS 12 spotted what appeared to be gang graffiti in the area and the district's own safety staff at one point warned school officials about the potential problem.

But superintendent of schools Dr. Art Johnson says he won't compromise the needs of the school system because of any gangs. He stresses overcrowding needs to be addressed.

"It's really a capacity issue. Central High has 2900 students and Leonard has 2100. We re-district primarily to make sure that we keep our students balanced," said Johnson.

The vote was only preliminary. The plan now goes for a final vote in March.

If it passes again it will go into effect for the next school year.