Loma Alta Elementary School is a "more likely" candidate for closure, Jackson is safer, and relocating Norma Coombs Alternative School to Jackson or Burbank Elementary are all possibilities in a school consolidation plan, according to a PUSD committee member.
Altadena Town Councilman Ken Roberts, vice-chair of PUSD's School Consolidation Study Committee, sent out a report following Saturday's public meeting at McKinley School.
According to Roberts, Loma Alta "was identified by the Committee as a more likely candidate for consolidation." If Loma Alta was closed, it could also serve an alternative use such as an early childhood education center, which could include outside groups.
If Loma Alta were closed, it would join three other Altadena schools that PUSD has closed in recent years: Noyes, Edison, and Audobon. Each of the school buildings have since housed charter schools: Noyes houses Aveson, Audobon houses Odyssey, and Edison has housed two charter schools that have failed and is presently a resource center.
According to Roberts, Roosevelt is less likely to be consolidated, and the committee was narrowly split between recommending Field or Jackson to be spared.
There was also a suggestion that all dual language immersion programs would be located at San Rafael.
While the committee's work is being fast-tracked -- they must make a recommendation to the superintendent, who is scheduled to bring it up at a November school board meeting -- they are still squeezing in time for public comments. Tonight, Oct. 4, there will be a community meeting with the committee members starting at 6:30 PM at Eliot Middle School. There will be another meeting for public comment at 6 PM Friday at Wilson Middle School.
