LAUSD plans $725M school rebuild after Palisades Fire

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is allocating $725 million to rebuild Palisades Charter High School, Palisades Charter Elementary, and Marquez Charter Elementary, which were severely damaged by the Palisades Fire. Displaced students from these schools have been relocated to nearby campuses, with some switching to online learning. LAUSD plans to expedite improvements and will spend up to $2.2 billion this year on various projects funded by a $9 billion school bond approved by voters in November. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho emphasized the importance of enhancing air quality monitoring across the district, noting the unexpected levels of smoke and ash in areas far from the fire. Additionally, the district is focusing on making campuses more resilient to natural disasters, with investments in infrastructure like HVAC systems and fire-resistant roofing. If debris removal and environmental testing proceed smoothly, students could return to portable classrooms on their original sites by as early as May, with new buildings expected by 2028.