Marquez Elementary Students Return to Home Campus

Marquez teachers cheered students as they arrived at school.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

When the January 7 fire destroyed homes and businesses in Pacific Palisades, it also destroyed two elementary schools, Palisades and Marquez.

Today September 30, nearly 10 months later, Marquez Elementary’s new Principal Lisa Timmerman welcomed families and students back to the campus at 8:30 a.m.

Not only were students greeted by television cameras, and dignitaries, they also were welcomed by teacher “cheerleaders” who ushered them into the new campus and portable classrooms.

Families walked students to school on September 30, the first day back at Marquez since the January 7 fire.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

Marquez Resident Sam Lagana captured Los Angeles Unified School District trucks unloading all new classroom equipment, such as desks and tables on Saturday. They were in place for today’s classes.

Although reporters were not allowed on the campus, in August there were tours of classrooms for parents and community members, and this editor took advantage of that opportunity to view the site.

The portable classrooms, library, administration building, kindergarten area, science room and music room, were clean, with windows and air conditioning. The kitchen in the lunch building was sizeable, with all new equipment. There were several play areas on the 7.73 acres campus. A large new playground has been built in the “middle” third of the land.

The number of teachers will remain the same as January. Then, the school population was 314 in kindergarten through fifth grade. Currently there are about 130 students enrolled. That means with fewer pupils attending, the teacher-to-student ratio will be high.

Prior to the fire about 85 percent of the families attending Marquez were in the attendance zone, now about 75 percent of those families live outside the zone.

LAUSD Superintendent Albert Carvalho addressed reporters after students were in their classrooms. “Ten months later, a promise made, and a promise kept. We said we would rebuild back and rebuild better.”

He briefly recounted the steps to get this point. First, it was to find a place for students to continue their education. Thanks to quick action by Board Member Nick Melvoin and his Senior Advisor Alison Pohill, Palisades students were taken to Brentwood Elementary School, where there was enough space for individual classes and teachers. Marquez Elementary students/staff transferred to Nora Sterry Elementary in West L.A.

After FEMA cleared the debris from the campuses, LAUSD approved $602 million for the rebuild of Marquez and Palisades Elementary and to repair Palisades High School, which also suffered fire damage.

The air, water and land were tested extensively to make sure the school grounds are safe and Carvalho promised that Marquez was the first to have air testing, and it would eventually be place into all LAUSD schools and include a dashboard for parents to see results in real time.

“We will deliver three remarkable schools at budget or below and in record time,” Carvalho said.

Television reporters spoke to Marquez students.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

While Marquez students go to school in the portable buildings, construction will start on the permanent structure in the upper third of the campus.

Councilmember Traci Park said, “We’re writing a new page. The heart of this neighborhood kept beating.” She added, “The Palisades may bend, but it will not break.”

Fifth grader Lila spoke. “When we arrived at Nora Sterry we didn’t know what to expect. We will miss Nora Sterry, but we are excited to come back.”

Fifth grader Winston thanked Nora Sterry for the warm welcome and “the good food.” He said he was anxious to run on the new track at Marquez  and “I can’t wait for all the construction to happen.”

Teachers, Claire Gardner, who has been at Marquez for 27 years, thanked everyone for getting the school campus back. “I always felt safe and welcomed.” She spoke about coming to the campus on Saturday to prepare for the first day back. “I had such a sense of peace just being here,” Gardner said.

Holding back tears, first grade teacher, Grace Winters, who has been at the school for three years, said, “I lost my classroom and I lost my home.” Winters had attended Marquez, Paul Revere and PaliHi. She said she knew she wanted to teach at Marquez because Palisades is about people. “It was important that we were all able to stay together as a community.”

Winters said, “It’s positive to be here. This is a place to come back to and it feels like there is life again.”

Carvalho closed, “Everyone knows the Phoenix rises from the ashes. We know the Seagull of Marquez is flying high.”

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho spoke to reporters at the reopening of school at Marquez.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN