THE EARTHQUAKE : Closure of High School Was Not a Done Deal
* I was disappointed by the coverage of the reopening of El Camino High School (“High School to be Shut at Least a Month,” Feb. 3). It suggested a “done deal” and failed to recognize the efforts to pursue other alternatives.
I attended the recent meeting in the gymnasium at the school on Feb. 2 to stress my commitment to help the El Camino school community consider immediate options, beyond just waiting for the arrival of portable classroom buildings. The decision to wait for portable classrooms, made quickly by district officials after the earthquake, failed to involve the parents and did not appreciate their strong desire to return students to class right away.
As I write, the principal, Joyce Washington, and a committee of parents, teachers, students and other staff members are considering specific alternatives. I support and will help implement immediately whatever recommendation comes forth from this process at the school. In the meantime, the district will allow El Camino students to transfer to any other Los Angeles Unified School District high school with available space. In addition, many interim educational workshops and other services are available right now at El Camino.
I share the frustration of many parents regarding the delays and other shortcomings in the communication process at El Camino following the quake. While we hurry to repair the school, I urge the school community to come together and arrive at a short-term plan in the best interests of all the students at El Camino.
MARK SLAVKIN
Los Angeles
Slavkin represents the 2nd District on the Los Angeles Board of Education.
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