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LOS ANGELES () — One year after the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles Unified School District officials Tuesday provided an update on rebuilding efforts regarding three schools damaged in the fire.
Marquez Charter Elementary and Palisades Charter Elementary were burned to the ground in the fire, while Palisades Charter High School suffered serious damage to part of the campus.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced the district will invest $604 million to rebuild the two elementary schools and the high school.
Palisades Charter High School will reopen in a couple of weeks. For the two elementary schools, the goal is to have them rebuilt by the fall of 2028 or sooner – and hopefully under budget.
“Initially we promised the fall of 2028,” Carvalho said at a news conference at Marquez Charter Elementary School in Pacific Palisades. “We will do our very best, not only for Marquez, but also for Pali Elementary, to reduce that timeline by taking advantage of all the flexibilities and support provided to us by the state of California, including Governor (Gavin) Newsom. They promised the red tape would be cut, and they are living up to that promise. And we’re going to take full advantage of the flexibilities provided to shorten the timeline of the rebuilding process.
“… I want to reassure our community that what we promised we will deliver on. These projects will come in on time or ahead of schedule. These projects will come in at or below budget. And these projects will honor the resilience, the determination, the courage, and yes, the suffering and the sacrifice of the community of the Palisades.”
L.A. Unified was able to go through the state to get the required permits quickly to start the rebuilding.
Where is the $604 million coming from? Voter-approved bond Measure US, insurance – and the district will seek federal assistance to help pay for the rebuilding.
Marquez students have been attending classes at temporary facilities on the campus while rebuilding work continues.
Students at Palisades Charter High School have been attending classes since August at the former Sears building on Fourth Street in downtown Santa Monica. That facility has been affectionately dubbed “Pali South.”
Classes at the fire-damaged campus, known as “Pali Main,” are expected to resume Jan. 27. Students will begin the LAUSD’s second semester next Tuesday at Pali South, allowing additional time to complete environmental testing at the Main campus before students return there.
Students at Palisades Charter Elementary School have been attending classes at Brentwood Science Magnet school pending rebuilding of the main campus.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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