School Expansion Gets an A With Staff

A new 14-classroom wing opened recently at one of the oldest elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley.

The $5-million addition to Morningside School has eased overcrowding and lifted the spirits of students and teachers.

“Everybody likes it,” said Debbie Rambeau, assistant principal at the year-round school. “The kids get excited about going to class, and everybody has more space.”

Morningside Principal Victoria Montez said plans for the expansion were approved about six years ago, but work was delayed as funds were sought for the project.

Work finally began in the summer of 1994 on the two-story structure on land purchased on the west side of the school. The new wing, built around a wide, open square enhanced by benches and flower beds, features underground parking, four new kindergarten rooms and a kindergarten play area. Second-story classrooms have skylights, and all the rooms are carpeted and have computer and cable-TV hookups, Montez said.

“Now all we need are the computers,” Montez said.

Morningside was built in 1915. One of its two main buildings was destroyed and some bungalows were heavily damaged in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. The building was rebuilt, but as a smaller, single-story wing, and as the population of the area increased, the school became overcrowded and students were bused to other schools.

“We were busing as many as 150 kids at one point,” Montez said.

Sonia Hernandez, who teaches third and fourth grades, said the new rooms make a huge difference.

“The kids are happy to have something of their own,” she said. “Before this, we were a roving class, which meant we had to move from class to class and share space. Now, the kids have their own room, and they take good care of it.”