Dear friends and partners,

Spring is here and the semester is in full swing! As the days get longer, our work continues to support the recovery efforts of our families and school communities affected by the Palisades fire. I’m proud that last week, Palisades High School was able to announce plans to return to in-person learning at a temporary site in Santa Monica. I was also able to tour the sites of Pali High and our two damaged elementary schools with the Army Corps of Engineers to see firsthand the progress of debris removal so that we can begin the process of rebuilding on the District’s ambitious timeline. 

As these efforts continue, we are meeting with families, staff, and community members to engage on the short- and long-term plans for rebuilding and recovery. We also took a more in-depth look at the planning process at the latest meeting of my Facilities and Procurement meeting. The goal of my committee is to examine District facilities, procurement processes, and projects to promote transparency, public awareness, and improved contracting standards—and I will continue to advocate for this progress as we modernize and upgrade campuses districtwide.

Onward,