Palisades Residents Association

We asked residents what questions or concerns they have regarding the John M. and Muriel Olguin Campus at Angels Gate. We had an overwhelming response. Below are the questions that the Palisades Residents Association board members compiled and organized.

Come to the meeting tonight to get answers and, maybe, ask a question that isn’t represented here. We will be updating this list with answers as we get them. Stay tuned!

» g o a l s | m a s t e r p l a n | v i s i o n

1. What is the LAUSD’s mission for the San Pedro High School, John M. & Muriel Olguin Campus?
2. What questions do you have of your neighbors?
3. What are your expectations for the SPHS, J&MOC?
4. Will students be on a variety of schedules with some starting late and some leaving at various p.m. times?
5. My concern is there being students in our neighborhood all through the school day and not knowing if they belong in school or not. Will students be required to carry their school ID at ALL times?
6. What after school, evening and weekend events are planned for the campus?
7. There is a perpetual change of staff from LAUSD communicating with us. It is a virtual revolving door. How can we be assured that whatever we are told by you is reliably true in the long term?
8. How do we know that you aren’t going to give this campus away to one of the charter organizations you support and thus make all of the promises you make to us now regarding the management of this campus empty?
9. Who will be attending SRHS#15?
10. Is a charter school a possibility still as a tenant?

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1. Will parents be able to interview the teachers like they are doing at Hawthorne’s Da Vinci Design and Science Charter High Schools?
2. How is home schooling viewed for high school students by LAUSD? Da Vinci has three days a week, at home scheduled.
3. How is “Project Based Learning” viewed by LAUSD?
4. How many students need to attend SPHS, J&MOC for it to be cost neutral, or what is the minimum number of students for the school to operate without a loss?
5. Regardless of cost, what is the minimum number of students needed to keep the school open to support the SPHS, J&MOC’s mission?
6. When will each student have IPAD, PC or Kindles like devices provided by LAUSD?
7. How has teaching been changed /affected, when every question can be answered from the internet using a smart cellphone?
8. How does LAUSD envision the future of home-based schooling?
9. How many students are currently involved in home-based teaching in LAUSD?
10. Will there be home-based teaching program at SPHS, J&MOC?
11. After students pass their High School graduation test, what criteria/ program keeps them in high school instead of starting classes at a college.
12. Will the campus be open at lunch time? Will students be allowed to visit the Corner Store on 37th during the school day or for lunch?
13. What are the plans for patrolling/checking the park along Paseo Del Mar for truant students?
14. Will there be night events & games at SRHS#15?
15. What are normal school hours?
16. Has LAUSD experienced a correlation between test scores and capital expenditures?
17. What is the average cost per year to educate a high school student in LAUSD?
18. What will the average cost be to educate a student at SPHS, J&MOC?

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1. Now much will SPHS, J&MOC cost per sq. ft. of classroom space?
2. How does LAUSD budget for new construction i.e., allotting percentages to constructing the campus and operating expenses for the campus?
3. Where are we in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process between LAUSD and City of Los Angeles Recreation & Parks Department?
4. Have discussions about the MOU begun with the City Attorney, Carmen Trutanich?
5. What is the projected cost per year to maintain the pool and who will pay it?
6. What are the proposed landscaping plans for the site along the westerly perimeter?
   a. This would be the slope from Alma Street all the way up to the school buildings.
   b. Right now I have a view of these huge 40 foot blue walls (sides of the main bldgs.) and it would sure be nice if some large trees could be planted to soften it.
7. What are the finalized parking spaces for the school attendance?

» s a f e t y | a c c e s s

1. Can the official school address be designated as Gaffey Street rather than Alma Street? Please discuss:
   a. The Pt. Fermin Education Center and Angels Gate High School have Gaffey Street Addresses.
   b. Alma Street is a narrow and winding residential street and is not suitable to be designated as the access street to the high school.
   c. If Alma Street is named as the street address, the resulting accidents and problems will tarnish the image and reputation of the school, and will sour San Pedro’s feelings toward the campus.
   d. The eastside sidewalk on Alma St. isn’t complete between 30th and 37th street. People walk in the street.
   e. Traveling South on Alma St., after Hamilton Avenue, the road narrows so that basically only one car at a time can us the road.
   These are just a few of the reasons why we propose that all traffic to SPHS, J&MOC use Gaffey Street.
2. Where will the entrance be for the school, on Gaffey or Alma St.?
3. Will the following concerns regarding safe access for students traveling to school by sidewalks or park roads be addressed and what is timeline….
   a. When will there be sidewalks on Barlow Saxton?
   b. When will the Barlow Saxton road be suitable for cars?
   c. When will the street signage be restored inside Angels Gate Park?
   d. Will Osgood Farley and Barlow Saxton roads be restored?
   e. Will the lack of eastside access sidewalks be corrected?
   f. Will Leavenworth Drive be widened?
   g. Will you add sidewalk access to Leavenworth, from Gaffey St?
   h. The crosswalk on Gaffey St. at 37th street goes from a sidewalk and curb into a curb and then small mound of dirt at Angels Gate Park. Can you get it upgraded or removed?
4. Can we get a longer left turn lane on Gaffey St. & Leavenworth Drive.?
5. Can you get the MTA to bring back service to Angels Gate Park so students could ride the bus to school?
6. Here are some items we would like to be sure are addressed before the school opens.
   a. How will students get to the school?
   b. Will students be parking on Alma?
   c. Where will students enter and leave the school?
   d. Will the gate on Alma be open for students to enter and leave school during the school day?
7. Parking for the students……we don’t want the neighborhood jammed with cars. Please confirm that the only entrance for vehicles or pedestrians will be on Alma Street.
8. How will traffic created by the new school be managed?
9. How will we ensure that students use the main entrance on Gaffey St. versus the Teacher’s entrance on Alma?
10. Traffic flow is a concern, and for us, living at the corner of Gaffey and 30th, the speed at which cars drive (either because they’re coming downhill northbound or are trying to build up speed to go uphill southbound) has been an issue even before the school’s construction.
11. As a safety issue, we’d like to see, and we think residents and students will benefit from, speed controls of some sort around Gaffey and 30th. Stop signs; lights, road dividers with roundels?
12. Though this is a steep hill area, 25th street is also steep, the lights on that street are an example of what Gaffey might need to become to help keep the flow of traffic slower, the quantity of traffic at an ideal/minimal level, and the beauty of the area balanced with function.
13. How will the entrance to SRHS#15 be used off Alma Street?
14. Is Gaffey still the primary location for entrance to school?
15. Is a signal light being installed for the entrance of the school?
16. What is the parking situation for student and school parking along Alma Street and use of 30th street?

Filed under: Angels Gate, Construction, Kids, Parks, Schools, Streets and Traffic | 1 Comment »

Dear Residents,

As you know, the new San Pedro High School, John M and Muriel Olguin Campus, is scheduled to open in less than 12 months in our neighborhood. This is a significant event in our community and region.

Certainly, this new LAUSD campus has been met with advocacy and adversity, and soon the PRA will sponsor, along with the Pt. Fermin Residents Association and the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council a “summit” which should provide all the answers we may seek, when it comes to curriculum, affordability, traffic patterns, attendance by local youth, joint use of the pool and other facilities, etc.

Next month, this anticipated event will take place, for all of us to attend – but first, I would like to ask you for your input and/or questions that we will provide in advance to the Superintendent, Area Superintendent, and SPHS Principal – that will serve the purpose of getting those questions answered accurately and timely.

Please provide your question(s) regarding the new campus by return e-mail by Monday, September 19, 2011 – and we will incorporate them along. Likewise, as soon as the date and location of this summit is confirmed, we will let you know, so you and your family can attend / participate. Attendees will be able to ask additional questions and or request clarification… as time permits.

By the way, there are a few positions available on the PRA Board – which meets once a month at the Corner Store. Let us know if you would like to serve and at the very least, please make sure your nominal dues are paid.

Yours truly,

Dave Behar
President | Palisades Residents Association of San Pedro

Filed under: Angels Gate, Construction, Kids, Parks, Schools, Streets and Traffic | Leave a Comment »