Late Sunday evening Malibu Unified School District announced that all Malibu schools will be closed on Monday, Jan. 27, due to hazardous road conditions and accessibility challenges caused by ongoing rain and mudflow risks. This closure affects Webster Elementary, Malibu Elementary, Malibu Middle, and Malibu High schools.
District officials shared that the decision was made after extensive discussions with local agencies, including the City of Malibu, the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, Los Angeles County Public Works, and Supervisor Lindsay Horvath’s office. Safety concerns for students and staff prompted the closure.
“We understand the disappointment this may cause, but safety remains our top priority,” Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton said in a statement. “We’ve been monitoring conditions closely and made this decision based on the latest updates from our partners.”
Principals will provide parents and staff with details on how students can continue learning remotely during the closure. District leaders also assured families that they will reassess the situation on Monday and provide further updates regarding plans for Tuesday.
For further updates, families are encouraged to monitor communications from the district.
Original Article:
Malibu public schools are expected to be closed on Monday, Jan. 27, due to ongoing road closures and safety concerns. The final decision will be communicated by 5 a.m. Monday morning.
The Malibu School District is closely monitoring the situation following meetings with local officials and Los Angeles County Public Works. The county has announced a closure of Malibu Canyon Blvd. from 5 p.m. today until 5 p.m. Monday, due to the potential for mud and debris flow from the recent Franklin Fire. The area is also under a flood watch, further complicating safety assessments.
The closures of Malibu Canyon, Pacific Coast Highway, and Topanga Canyon, combined with restrictions on Kanan Dume Road, present significant challenges for transportation. School buses, including those serving special education students, are unable to safely navigate these routes. This limits emergency evacuation options, especially given Kanan Dume’s history of closures.
This decision comes on top of increasing frustration among Malibu parents, who have been raising concerns about school closures due to power outages. Last week, the Malibu Elementary School PTA issued a statement expressing their frustration with the district’s response to power outages and the lack of backup power. Since last year, the PTA stated that they have been requesting backup power for the schools, but their emails have largely been ignored or countered with misinformation.
The PTA explained that the district’s refusal to address this issue has already resulted in nearly two weeks of missed school due to power outages, adding to the burden of school closures caused by road issues and safety concerns. Additionally, last Thursday, many parents were outraged when schools remained open despite being without power on a red flag day. The lack of backup power, despite months of requests, left many feeling ignored by the district. Many parents expressed their anger at the decision to open schools in the dark, stating that they felt the district took no consideration for the safety of students and staff in such dangerous conditions.
As the district continues to explore alternative solutions, officials remain committed to ensuring the safety of students and staff, during this incredibly challenging time, with updates to follow on Monday morning.