The start date for Malibu schools has mostly been pushed back to next month, as confirmed by Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District spokesperson Gail Pinsker.
The tentative plan to reopen schools is as follows:
• Webster Elementary School – Nov. 28
• Point Dume Marine Science School – Dec. 3
• Juan Cabrillo Elementary School – between Dec. 3-5
• Malibu High School – between Dec. 4-10
The delay is due to ongoing cleaning of the school facilities. Juan Cabrillo and MHS are specifically being tested for lead, asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
In an email to The Malibu Times, Pinsker said, “We are working with a certified professional cleaning staff, experienced in cleaning and restoration, along with environmental specialists, industrial hygienists and other experts, to ensure our schools are safe for students and staff upon reopening.
At a Nov. 15 SMMUSD School Board meeting, district chief operations officer Carey Upton said he and a facility team had been escorted to the schools the day prior to the meeting.
“The positive thing is that there is no apparent damage to any of our permanent buildings on any of our campuses,” he said, adding this was lucky since many of the homes surrounding schools—surrounding PDMSS and MHS specifically—were lost.
Damage was sustained to construction trailers on the MHS campus, but Upton confirmed the was no damage to the new construction.
Of all the schools, Webster fared the best. “There was really no notice of the fire,” he said of the school, though there were visible signs of the Santa Ana winds such as fallen tree branches and other debris.
Currently, displaced families have the option of resuming education for their students at any other SMMUSD or other district school. The district advises parents to “Contact the nearest school office for registration.”
A survey will be sent out to parents shortly regarding future education plans of their kids.
The school district looks to keep to the schedule and end the 2018-19 school year on June 12, 2019. This may involve “possible adjustment of the semester breaks,” according to Pinsker.
Supervision will be available for students in kindergarten through 12th grade until the other schools reopen starting Wednesday, Nov. 28. The service will continue at Olympic High School next week.
For more information, visit the district website at smmusd.org.
Editor’s note: This brief has been updated with information from the school district.