Schools begin Phase 2 of reopening

PASADENA UNIFIED

Students return after Eaton fire closures; district aims to resume operations of all its campuses by Thursday

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Pedestrians cross the street on Monday outside Norma Coombs Elementary School, one of the campuses reopening as part of a phased approach by the Pasadena Unified School District. Dean Musgrove — staff photographer

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By David Wilson

dawilson@scng.com

Monday marked the launch of the second phase of reopening for Pasadena Unified School District schools jolted by the Eaton fire.

On Monday, four schools and two programs reopened for about 1,670 students, which included Field Elementary, Washington Elementary STEM Magnet, Madison Elementary, Norma Coombs Elementary, Children Centers on the Jefferson and Washington campuses and Alma Fuerte Public, a charter school.

“Lots of hugs, some big emotions, joyful moments,” Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said in an email Monday about the schools reopening. “Students connected with teachers and each other; parents with each other. Our mental health counselors were at all schools. They checked in on students in classrooms, then with staff in the afternoon.”

The process began last week with 10 schools reopening.

Blanco said the openings Monday brought the total number of students back in school to 5,070. The goal is to have all 8,700-plus students back to school by Thursday.

The Eaton fire has destroyed approximately 9,000 structures, burned more than 14,000 acres and killed at least 17 people since starting on Jan. 7 in Altadena. According to the district, more than 10,000 students and 1,387 employees lived in evacuation zones.

The district categorized schools not directly affected by the fire into tiers based on their proximity to the fire and level of damage from debris and smoke.

According to the district, Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Aveson School of Leaders, Odyssey Charter School-South, Pasadena Rosebud Academy and Franklin Elementary School suffered damage from the Eaton fire.

Blanco said in a statement Monday that Aveson, Odyssey Charter School-South and Rosebud would be relocating during the recovery period.

Aveson School of Leaders was offered a spot on the Cleveland campus sharing it with Alma Fuerte TK-8.

Odyssey Charter School-South had been offered space at the Audubon campus the current home to Odyssey North Charter.

Rosebud Academy has been offered space at Don Benito Elementary School.

On Jan. 17, PUSD hosted a Community Connector Event at Pasadena City College to provide the district community with information on how to re-enroll children at school, provide care packages and resources.

The district said all campuses are undergoing extensive cleaning and sanitizing and must pass environmental tests before being cleared for reopening.

Blanco said air purifiers and filtration indoors was part of the cleaning and preparation.

“PUSD monitors outdoor air quality and with guidance from California Public Health and AQMD, alerts schools to put their procedures into effect: student remain indoors, outdoor activities are limited or stopped, and students and staff with asthma are monitored,” Blanco said.

Blanco did not respond to whether the results of air quality testing at school sites would be released to parents or the public.