Officials Say New School Passes First-Day Test

Except for some traffic jams and confusion over new parking restrictions along Hawthorne Boulevard, the first day of school Thursday at the new, consolidated Palos Verdes Peninsula High School went smoothly, district officials said.

“In our view the first day was absolutely outstanding,” said Supt. Michael Caston. “It was far better than we even hoped it could be.”

For the past several months, the district has been working to address fears by Rancho Palos Verdes residents that the 3,000-student high school would further clog traffic along the city’s main thoroughfares.

As part of their plan, district officials divvied up parking spaces in the school’s newly expanded parking lot by creating a lottery for students who car-pool at least three to a car. At the same time, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes began operating a shuttle bus to carry students from an auxiliary parking lot to the new campus.

But city officials surprised school officials by voting Wednesday to prohibit parking along Hawthorne Boulevard, depriving the district of about 100 parking spaces.

“We adjusted to it, . . . but it was a complete shock to the school district,” Caston said. “Students have parked there for probably close to 30 years, and there’s never been a problem.”

Though sheriff’s deputies were on hand to enforce the new parking restrictions, traffic nevertheless remained heavy on Silver Spur Road, which fronts the campus.