Students from 2 Burned-Down L.A. Schools to Resume Class in New Locations

Relocation Plan Keeps Displaced School Communities Intact

Students from two burned-down Los Angeles elementary schools will resume classes Wednesday in new locations in neighborhoods near fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades as employee unions estimate that at least 150 district staff, including many teachers, have lost their homes.

New Locations Announced

Students who were attending Palisades Charter Elementary will shift to Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet in Brentwood, a neighborhood adjacent to Pacific Palisades. Students who had been at Marquez Charter Elementary will report for class at Nora Sterry Elementary in the Sawtelle neighborhood, which is south of Brentwood.

Teachers’ Unions Estimate Significant Losses

The teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles, estimates that 148 employees it represents have lost their homes. The California School Employees Association, which represents library aides, reports that two of its members have also lost their homes. Together, the two unions account for about half of district employees.

District Provides Support to Affected Employees

The district will provide five flexible paid days off to affected employees, a number that is likely to rise, said L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho. Teachers union President Cecily Myart-Cruz and administrators’ union president Maria Nichols have criticized the district’s response, saying it was slow and lacked clear communication.

Criticism of District’s Response

Carvalho acknowledged the problems but said it wasn’t for lack of diligent attention. He explained that the district’s actions were based on protocols developed in 2021 after a major fire. “This guide actually contemplated a single event,” Carvalho said. “And by the way, this is consistent with level of readiness and response that fire departments, municipal entities, CAL FIRE have declared. At no point has there ever been a level of preparation for three, four, five or six simultaneous fires with hurricane-level strength, winds with a degree of instability and wind shifts that were hard to predict.”

Review and Improvement of Procedures

Carvalho said the district would review and improve procedures for the future. He also acknowledged that air-quality dashboards were “inconsistent with what I was seeing” and conditions that were reported to him by principals. He decided to expand school closures and even shut down schools in progress on Wednesday, which caused logistical problems, but seemed more prudent than waiting out the school day, he said.

Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Palisades High School, an L.A. Unified property managed by an independent charter school, will remain closed this week. About 40% of the structures were either damaged or destroyed, wrote Principal Pamela Magee in a post to the school community. Pali High intends to open next Tuesday, offering classes online while it looks for a temporary location.

State Support for Affected Campuses

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced measures to help schools recover and maintain funding. The order suspends attendance, class size, and residency requirements for affected campuses. Districtwide, attendance was 87% across L.A. Unified, compared to 91% for the year as a whole. The attendance rate at Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet was 65%; at Sterry it was 79%. The Eagle Rock area was affected by heavy smoke and high winds, and attendance was below normal in that area as well. At Eagle Rock Elementary, the attendance rate was 84%, at Eagle Rock High School, it was 90%.

Conclusion

The L.A. Unified School District has faced an unprecedented challenge in the wake of the recent fires in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas. While the district has taken steps to relocate students from the affected schools, many employees have lost their homes and are struggling to cope with the aftermath. The district has provided support to affected employees, and the state has announced measures to help schools recover and maintain funding. As the district continues to work towards recovery, it is essential to review and improve procedures to ensure that such events are better managed in the future.

FAQs

* What schools are affected by the fires?
+ Palisades Charter Elementary and Marquez Charter Elementary
* Where will students from these schools attend classes?
+ Students from Palisades Charter Elementary will attend Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet, and students from Marquez Charter Elementary will attend Nora Sterry Elementary
* How many employees have lost their homes?
+ The teachers union estimates that 148 employees have lost their homes, and the California School Employees Association reports that two of its members have also lost their homes
* What support is being provided to affected employees?
+ The district is providing five flexible paid days off to affected employees, and the state has announced measures to help schools recover and maintain funding
* When will Palisades High School reopen?
+ Palisades High School will reopen on Tuesday, offering classes online while it looks for a temporary location