Palisades Charter High School started the week in person by attending a temporary high school until the campus in Pacific Palisades is reopened.
Photo: HENRY KAMER
By HENRY KAMER
Almost 2,500 Palisades Charter High School students flooded into the renovated Sears Building in Santa Monica on April 22. After three months of online school due to the devastating Palisades Fire, students had an actual campus. The January 7 Palisades Fire had rendered the campus and the town unusable, sending students back to COVID-reminiscent online learning. Many others were displaced.
The building used to be a Sears and Roebuck department store back in the 1990s, but when e-commerce developed and overcame in-person shopping, it closed down. The building, bought in 2015 by Seritage Growth Properties, was converted to office space, and finished in 2020.
Now, in 2025, the department store where many bought tools and clothes (including this reporter’s father) serves as a school for thousands of students.
In just one month, the building was transformed into a place for learning and socialization, something these students (this reporter included) desperately needed. Of course, no replacement location could match Pali, and compromises had to be made, such as space and the lack of windows – two things that top students’ grievance list.
However, despite the flaws of the building (of which there are quite a few) “Pali South,” as it is called, has been able to serve as an excellent hub for students and teachers, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Principal Pamela Magee and the rest of the administration as well as the City of Santa Monica.
On the first day, this reporter was dropped off along with a friend at the Metro E Line Expo/Sepulveda stop, which conveniently let them off just across the street from 302 Colorado Avenue, the former Sears building.
As we stepped out at the Downtown Santa Monica stop at around 8:15 a.m., there were multiple police officers as well as security guards and other volunteers/workers welcoming and guiding Pali students to the campus.
The news station ABC-7 was there, covering the scene as hordes of students came down the Metro steps into the tunnel leading to the building. The news also interviewed two ASB members (Associated Student Body) who had been involved in the process of keeping the student population updated.
As crowds of people rushed into the parking lot, where the temporary restrooms are staged, this reporter’s first impression was of an overwhelming and claustrophobic place. Walking towards the building, the massive crowd outside the doors came into view. There were people everywhere, and that would apply to the inside of the building too.
Attempting to get to the second floor for an American History class, there was lots of shoving and chaos as hundreds of students attempted to use one, tiny stairwell to get to their classes on higher floors. After struggling to move even a few feet, this reporter finally made it to class.
Every student received a special Sears student ID along with a message from University High students encouraging them. That was about all that could happen, as unfortunately, the WiFi remained down for most of the day and there were no copy machines available to produce assignments or tests.
As the rest of the day slowly trailed along, students were reminded of the pains of a full school day, having gotten used to ending at noon since the fire. Students also struggled to find places to convene or sit during the mid-morning break and lunch.
By the end of the first day, students found themselves exhausted and ready to escape the sweaty, claustrophobic concrete box, very different than the wide-open campus we know well. The first day felt extremely surreal, one student said “the day felt like a dream.” Students left with many negative impressions, but to the administration’s credit, they are taking steps to rectify all issues.
Things began to get slightly better on the second and third day as changes were made. The various chokepoints around key entrance and exit areas were reduced by redirecting flow and releasing different floors and grade levels at staggered times.
The key doors students used were held open by large water containers. Security was more tightly regulated. The WiFi was actually up but was still so slow to the point where any work was impossible (this one is for sure a work in progress).
The return of Palihi students to in-person learning at the old Sears building turned “Pali South” was full of stress and chaos. Despite this stress and chaos, students still appreciated the opportunity to leave their screens and reconnect with friends and teachers they had not physically seen for months.
The opening of Pali South is a success, despite issues, which this reporter is confident will be fixed with patience and time. With students, teachers, and administrators working together, the Sears building has the capability to serve as an excellent temporary site for students to return to normal life and carry on while the beloved Palisades campus and surrounding area slowly rebuilds.