Canyon Charter to Undergo Phase 1 of Remodel

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

The Los Angeles Unified School District is beginning work on the first phase of the Classroom Replacement Project at Canyon Charter Elementary School, with construction slated to continue through March 2021.

LAUSD’s initial announcement that the Canyon campus would undergo a renovation stirred community concerns back in 2018, but community meetings kept parents and neighbors informed of the changes, which include the removal and replacement of temporary classrooms.

The temporary, or “relocatable,” classrooms were first put in place to accommodate increasing enrollment throughout the district. Per state requirements, LAUSD has to remove the classrooms purchased from the Department of Housing, according to an in-detail powerpoint that was released on Monday, June 1.

The powerpoint also reveals that the project was approved for a budget of $5.4 million.

Phase 1 includes the removal of two classrooms in one DOH building along Entrada Drive that will be replaced by a certified two-classroom relocatable building. There will be a new restroom building installed, code-required ADA upgrades, a new fire hydrant on campus and the restoration of site areas impacted by the DOH removal.

Construction will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday as needed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Neighbors will be notified prior to major noise activity, and work will be performed in accordance with the city of Santa Monica’s Noise Ordinance: no noise after 7 p.m. and on Sundays.

COVID-19 safety measures mandated by the state will be observed at the construction site, according to a pre-construction bulletin announcement.

An LAUSD project manager will be in communication with Canyon’s principal and community relations to address student, staff and parents’ concerns in regards to construction, according to the powerpoint.

Phase 2 of the project is still pending state approval, but is anticipated in the first quarter of 2021. After the project is state approved, funding options will be evaluated.

Plans for Phase 2 include a new 10-classroom, two-story building, which will replace seven general classrooms.

“The new classroom building is designed to meet the most advanced standards in the district, including modern technology and space requirements,” according to a Los Angeles Unified spokesperson.

The majority of the outdoor play-site will be renovated with a new grass field, a learning garden, 30 additional trees and more. Additionally the historic school house will be relocated to the corner of Entrada and Amalfi, “showcasing the long history of education in the Santa Monica Canyon,” the spokesperson added.

Construction is to be determined.