Students in California return to school following L.A. wildfires
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - For the first time since the Palisades Fire tore through Southern California, hundreds of Los Angeles area students are back in class, but not in school. Rather, in a former Sears store.
"We're starting school for the first time after the Palisades fire," said Clara, an 11th grade student at Palisades Charter High School.
When asked how she feels about going back to school, Clara said, "Kinda crazy, cuz we've been online the whole year, s it's a little nerve wracking for us."
"It feels really unreal. I still don't believe I'm going back," said Ananshaa, another 11th grade student at the school.
"It's been so crazy. I'm excited to get everything somewhat back to normal. I miss my friends, I miss my teachers, I miss Eric the security guard," said Owen Fisher, Associate Student Body (ASB) Vice President. "It's going to be good to see everyone be able to learn."
Fisher went on to say he had evacuated when the wildfires broke out saying, "We've been going to friends' houses, hotel ands stuff. Just kind of moving around, wherever insurance will pay for."
Fisher said he came back earlier this week.
"A lot of my friends lost their houses, which is really awful," Clara expressed.
"I honestly really hope we can get it back by next year, but I'm really excited to go to Sears. Or...Pali South," said Lucy, another 11th grade student.
"We have insurance that helps with some of the loss of use of property. But also amazing donors who have stepped in to make some of the finer parts of this happen. We had enough to cover the structural pieces, but soft touches, carpets, things like that, all came from our generous donors."
Dr. Pam Magee, Principal, Palisades Charter High School
When asked how he felt about a former Sears store being turned into a school, ASB Treasurer Nathan Hall said, "It looked like a department store, right? And now somehow they turned it into a school for 2,500 kids. A home, too. It's a place for us to go now. To think my dad bought his college mattress here is insane! Did he really?! Yeah! He bought it right here at the Sears Department store."
Principal Magee says she hopes the damage to the Pali High campus can be repaired in August, but a lot of environmental cleanup in the community, and rebuilding, has to happen first.
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