Hermosa school board adopts long range facilities master plan
The Hermosa Beach school board voted unanimously on Monday to adopt a new long range facilities master plan that addresses the district’s overcrowding problems.
The plan, compiled by the architectural company Gkk Works, includes options to for the district to remain a two-school district or to expand to three campuses by reopening the former North School campus. The board is also in talks with the city to move the district’s offices from Hermosa Valley School to classrooms at South Park in order to free up even more space.
While 1,430 students attended six schools in Hermosa Beach in 1950, today roughly the same number of students attend only two schools. At Hermosa Valley School, makeshift classrooms have been set up in the multipurpose room and portable classrooms have been added to accommodate students.
Board President Patti Ackerman and other members stressed that the plan is a “living document” that can be modified going forward.
“It gives us multiple options,” Ackerman said.
Superintendent Patricia Escalante said the board will decide at its July 9 meeting whether to pursue an option that includes two campuses or three. She also said that the board will have to decide no later than its July 23 meeting whether or not to pursue placing a bond measure on the November ballot in order to fund either the modernization or rebuilding of its schools.