LAUSD will be providing updates on construction at South Region High School #15 (SRHS#15) and answering community questions at a meeting this Wednesday.

WHAT: SRHS#15 Construction Update Meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 6:00 pm
WHERE: White Point Elementary School Auditorium, 1410 Silvius Ave
DETAILS: Download a copy of the flyer here: srhs15meeting0414101
CONTACT: Tito Corona at tito.corona@lausd.net.

Related Articles:
School articles

The 2010 celebration of the Great Los Angeles Air Raid of 1942 will happen this Saturday at Fort MacArthur Museum. There will be live music, dancing, vintage costumes and cars and food and drink.

WHAT: The Great Los Angeles Air Raid of 1942
WHEN: Saturday, February 20, 2010, Noon–8 pm
WHERE: Fort MacArthur Museum, 3601 S. Gaffey St.
TICKETS: $20 Pre-Sale (ends today at 5 pm) or $30 the night of the show

Related Articles:
Fort Macarthur news

There are several new items on the SRHS#15 (South Regional High School #15) at Angels Gate front.

There is a new “unofficial” SRHS#15blog at http://www.srhs15.blogspot.com/ This online newsletter provides information regarding the construction and also includes project updates, artist renderings of the project, site maps, and information on how to contact the LAUSD to report feedback or concerns. In the next few weeks, the new school’s official website should be ready and we’ll let you know about it then.

LAUSD has released a Construction Activity Update outlining their timeline and plans for SRHS#15 in the coming years. Construction is scheduled to begin in five months and should be completed by the school opening in September, 2012. Click here to download the Update.

LAUSD will be holding a community meeting regarding construction activities at SRHS#15 in two weeks. They will introduce the construction team, give an overview of the construction activities, and address any questions or concerns. Download a copy of the flyer here.
WHEN: Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 pm
WHERE: White Point Elementary School Auditorium, 1410 Silvius Ave

Related Articles:
SRHS#15 Dust Meeting
DTSC at Coastal Meeting
Angels Gate Clean-up Meeting
SRHS#15 Pre-Demolition Community Meeting
More

There will be a rededication ceremony of the K-9 Command Cemetery at Fort MacArthur Museum. The military dog cemetery is the resting place of more than two dozen military dogs. Several speakers will make presentations including Former K-9 Handler Paul Acosta, Museum Director Steve Nelson, and local San Pedro resident Dorothy Matich. Refreshments to follow.

K-9 Command Cemetery Rededication
Saturday, May 23, 2009
1:00 pm
Ft. MacArthur Museum
3601 S. Gaffey St.

Related Article:
Were There UFOs Over San Pedro in 1942?

Do you remember the great air raid of February 1942? Civilians and military personnel reports ranged from Japanese bombers to alien spacecraft attacking L.A. It’s still a mystery today.

As a fundraiser for the Fort MacArthur Museum, there will be a recreation of what that 1942 evening would have been like at a dance. Dean Mora and the Fort MacArthur Officers Orchestra will be playing while you dance the night away in period costumes, if you have them. Dress warmly and expect loud noises!

DETAILS:
7th Annual Great Los Angeles Air Raid
Saturday, February 28, 2009
3–5 pm: Special Exhibits
5–8 pm: Music & Dance
The Fort MacArthur Museum
3601 S Gaffey St.

Admission: Advanced Sales $20.00 per person on-line or $30 at the gate on the night of the event. For more information visit Fort MacArthur Museum.

Alma Street rendering 1 (click for larger image)

Several members of the Palisades Residents Association board met with representatives of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) yesterday to get the latest word on South Region High School #15 to relay the information to Palisades residents. LAUSD’s Regional Development Director Rod Hamilton, Board of Education District 7 Chief of Staff David Kooper, and District 7 Deputy Chief of Staff Jacob Haik filled us in.

This coming April or May, eight historic WWI buildings will be moved into the newly created “historic district” on LAUSDs property at Angels Gate where ten WWI buildings are already in place. Two of these buildings will eventually become prototypical historic buildings restored to near-original condition including redwood siding. The other buildings may be available to community groups in exchange for a low rent and building restoration. This is still in discussion. One of these WWI buildings may be available eventually for the Skills Center automotive program which was moved to the Harbor Occupational Center. The WWII buildings will be razed. Fort MacArthur Museum is in talks with LAUSD about possibly saving and moving one or two WWII buildings onto Ft. Mac property.

Also, in April or May, Angels Gate Continuation High School and the Early Education Center will be moved into portable classrooms placed on the sides of the parking area in front of the International Bird Rescue Center and Marine Mammal Care Center. Grading and remediation of contaminated earth will happen at this time. LAUSD will get back to us whether contaminated earth will be removed by trucks or recycled on site.

The migratory bird study, a special condition requested by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) for approval of the coastal permit, has begun. LAUSD will go before the CCC again in 2010 to seek approval for 36 wind turbines.

This fall the site will be ready for construction. Construction will begin no later than January 2010 and will last for 2 years and 4 months. The Point Fermin Outdoor Education Center (PFOEC) construction, which has already begun, should be finished in 2010. Offsite work on Alma and Gaffey Streets will be in late 2011 or early 2012. The new high school is expected to open in the fall of 2012.

Alma Street rendering 2 (click for larger image)

Alma Street will be widened by 7’ along the entire LAUSD property to straighten out the curves in the road and an 8′ sidewalk will be constructed. No residents’ property will changed. A traffic light will be installed on Gaffey Street at 32nd Street. This will be the preferred entrance and exit for busses going to and from the PFOEC provided a Memo of Understanding (MOU) and Joint Use Agreement with the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks are approved. Barlow Saxton Road (across Gaffey from 32nd Street) is on Rec & Parks land. This road will be slightly reconfigured near the PFOEC. The MOU gives LAUSD access to this road and parking in exchange for road improvements to Barlow Saxton Road, an engineering study on Osgood Farley Road and community access to the high school pool and fields. Rec & Parks will pay for the engineering study.

Alma Street rendering 3 (click for larger image)

Community access to the pool and fields will be after school hours and weekends when school is not in session and high school teams are not practicing. Estimates to restore the Gaffey Street (Hey, Rookie!) pool on Rec & Parks property at Angels Gate ranged from 9 to 10 million dollars.

The MOU between LAUSD and Rec & Parks will be presented at the next Board of Recreation & Parks Commissioners meeting on February 4. See meeting details here.

The historic stone wall surrounding the property will remain, however the fence on top of the wall will be redone. There are no plans to open the entrances to LAUSD property on 37th 36th Street. Utilities will be placed underground so there will not be utility poles on the property (see photos). The school will be 75–100% sustainable and will be CHPS certified. CHPS (pronounced “chips”) is the Collaborative for High Performance Schools which incorporates some of the ideas of LEED for Schools certification

Once the school is ready to be filled with students, the high school will be a magnet school housing 510 students sharing the same administration as San Pedro High School. Students living in San Pedro will be given first priority to entrance in these magnet programs. Currently at San Pedro High School there are slightly fewer than 500 students attending the Police and Marine Science magnets.

If you have questions regarding South Region High School #15 please
E-mail the PRA or attend the next Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meeting when there will be a 30-minute question and answer period.

Related Articles:
Rec & Parks to Meet about SRHS#15
California Coastal Commission approves SRHS#15
Parks Feedback

“The results of the human health risk assessment conducted for the Site
utilizing a conservative, hypothetical residential use scenario indicated that
several chemicals detected in several OUs at the Site, pose an unacceptable
cancer or non-cancer health risk. The chemicals contributing the majority to
risk were localized in nature and include arsenic, PAHs, chlordane, dieldrin,
and dioxin.” Page 10-2, PEA report for SRHS#15

LAUSD has released the Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) report for the proposed South Region High School #15 at Fort MacArthur’s Upper Reservation. Sampling and analyzing of soil over several areas of the Angels Gate location were performed. The results are outlined in the PEA report available online at LAUSD, electronically by sending an e-mail to Christer Loftenius at christer.loftenius@lausd.net, or to view in person at the San Pedro High School or San Pedro Library.

The public review period begins on August 5, 2008, and ends on September 5, 2008. During this period the LAUSD will receive written comments on the PEA document. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) will review the PEA document concurrently and must either approve or disapprove the PEA document within 30 days after the close of the public review period. Written comments must be received no later than September 5, 2008, at the following address:

Attention: Christer Loftenius, Environmental Assessment Coordinator
LAUSD Office of Environmental Health and Safety
1055 West 7th Street, 9th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone (213) 893-7045, Fax (213) 893-7412

A Public Hearing on the findings of the PEA will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008, at Barton Hill Elementary School, 423 N. Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90731.

**UPDATE** The anticipated “release” date of the Draft EIR for the Proposed SRHS #15 Project has been delayed from the original estimate. Currently, the tentative release date is August 22, 2008. We will keep you informed of any additional changes should they arise.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will be holding two important meetings regarding the proposed South Region High School #15 at Angels Gate / Ft. MacArthur Upper Reservation. The public is invited, and encouraged, to attend these meetings.

Preliminary Environmental Assessment Hearing
Here is a description of the Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) process from the Department of Toxic Substances Control website:
“A Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) is required when there is potential contamination on the school site. The report includes results of environmental sampling and a health risk assessment conducted according to DTSC guidelines. As required by the Education Code, school districts must make the report available for public review and comment before DTSC’s final determination. DTSC is required to approve or disapprove the PEA Report within 30 days of close of public review period or within 30 days of the school district’s approval of the Environmental Impact Report for the school. If the assessment identifies no significant health or environmental risks, the school district will receive a “No Further Action” determination letter from DTSC and the process is complete. If the assessment identifies potential contamination, further action will be required.”

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Barton Hill Elementary School - Auditorium
423 N Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731
*Dates and times subject to change.

CEQA Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) Meeting & Presentation of Design Development Drawings
This meeting will be to introduce a new design for the now proposed 810-seat school, down from the original 1,215-seats, and DEIR findings.

Thursday, September 04, 2008
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Barton Hill Elementary School - Auditorium
423 N Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731
*Dates and times subject to change.

Related Link/s:
August 20 LAUSD Announcement
September 4 LAUSD Announcement
California Department of Toxic Substances Control: School Site Cleanup
California Education Code

LAUSD will be holding a public meeting to present and discuss a new school design for the proposed South Region High School #15 at Angels Gate. They will also be discussing the next steps in the construction process.

POSTPONED
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
6:00 PM – 08:00 PM

San Pedro High School Auditorium
1001 W. 15th Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

LAUSD Community Organizer: Roberta Jones-Booker (213) 893-6802 or (800) 704-1267.

**UPDATE** The meeting has been postponed until further notice. We will keep you abreast of when the meeting will be rescheduled.

Related Link/s:
LAUSD Facilities Meeting Notice

LAUSD’s Board of Education voted this week to change the proposed South Region High School #15 at Angels Gate from 1,215 seats to 810.

In addition to this news, here are some of the “unofficial” changes in the works:
* There school will be part of San Pedro High School, not a competing high school.
* The Marine Science Magnet program will be located at SRHS#15.
* The curriculum of the Marine Science Magnet can be networked with curriculum at local elementary and middle school programs.
* Magnet students will be bused between the Upper Reservation campus and SPHS’s main campus for other classes and athletic programs.
* Athletic events will continue to be maintained at the SPHS. Field space at the Upper Reservation will be for intramural and general activities rather than dedicated athletic uses.
* The Milken Point Fermin Outdoor Education Center would have access to the new facilities at the Upper Reservation when not being used by the magnet program.
* Angels Gate Continuation High School will be moved to a site near the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) in the spring of 2009.
* The nearby Marine Mammal Care Center and IBRRC could be added to the laboratory activities being planned for the Marine Science Magnet program.
* Eminent domain of private property is not being considered.
* The Alma Street entrance will not be used as the main entrance. LAUSD is working with L.A. City’s Department of Recreation and Parks for a joint road from Gaffey Street.