Most Schools in Los Angeles District to Reopen Monday Amid Ongoing Fires
LOS ANGELES − Students from most schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) are expected to return to in-person classes on Monday, even as fires continue to burn in the region, as per the district’s announcement on Sunday.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho shared that the decision was made after evaluating factors such as better fire containment, air quality improvement, wind conditions, and available staffing.
“Thanks to the diligent efforts of our staff in cleaning up schools and the commitment of first responders and local authorities to maintain the safety of our communities, the district can resume its school schedules and educational activities,” the announcement stated.
Initially, the district remained open on Wednesday just after the fires began, but had to shut down for the rest of the week after the situation worsened.
Eight schools will remain closed in the areas most affected by the fires, and the district is keeping an eye on two additional schools: Roscomare Road Elementary and Community Magnet Charter.
Additionally, Pasadena Unified School District has declared that it will be closed until January 17.
According to the LAUSD announcement, an update will be released at 10 p.m. PT, with ongoing monitoring through the night. Any overnight changes will be shared with families and staff by 5:30 a.m. PT.
Schools that are open will follow an inclement weather schedule that limits outdoor activities.
The wildfires have resulted in at least 16 fatalities and forced over 100,000 residents to evacuate their homes, with an additional 87,000 individuals advised to be prepared for possible evacuation. Nearly 40,000 acres have been scorched by the ongoing fires as of Sunday, according to CalFire.
Schools in LAUSD that Will Remain Closed
The following LAUSD schools will not reopen on Monday:
- Canyon Charter Elementary School
- Kenter Canyon Charter Elementary School
- Palisades Charter Elementary School
- Marquez Charter Elementary School
- Topanga Charter Elementary School
- Lanai Road Elementary School
- Paul Revere Middle School
The announcement confirms that these schools will reopen when conditions are suitable.
According to the Los Angeles Times, students from Palisades Charter Elementary, which sustained significant damage during the Palisades Fire, will be relocated to Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet. Meanwhile, students from Marquez Elementary, also heavily impacted, will attend classes at Nora Sterry Elementary.
