Canyon Elementary New Building Scheduled to Open in Early 2027
By Laurel Busby
News & Information Editor
The planned construction of a two-story classroom building at Canyon Charter School provoked heated discussion at a community meeting on June 16.
The $57.5 million project, which was approved by the Board of Education on Nov. 14, 2017 and approved for funding on Nov. 9, 2021, will include nine classrooms—three kindergarten and six general—plus support spaces, according to officials. In addition, a sewer line will be rerouted, while improvements will include an upgraded playground, infrastructure additions, and new landscaping.
Construction delays, the building’s height, and anticipated long summer construction hours were some topics of contention for residents who spoke against the project. The landscaping plan, which includes the removal of three eucalyptus trees and one jacaranda, also worried some residents, although a number of attendees also spoke in support of the overall project.
Some attendees asked whether landscaping might be added to reduce the visual impact of the new building in order to make it blend in better with its surroundings. An LAUSD representative noted that the number of trees on the site would increase by 20 to 86 trees by the end of construction. However, the full landscaping details were not available at this meeting, although Maribel Serrano, an LAUSD community relations officer, promised that more information would be forthcoming at future meetings.
The height of the building also upset some residents, who complained that it blocked their views. According to the officials, a typical LAUSD classroom is 14 feet high, and the minimum height is 10 feet. Space between floors is required for various mechanical apparatus, and the estimated completed height of the structure would be about 37 feet. The exact height was not available at the meeting.
Officials detailed five phases for the project, which is estimated to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027. The first phase, which was intended to include the sewer line rerouting, encountered challenges that required a redesign, delaying the sewer construction until the summer of 2027. Other portions of Phase 1 have already been completed, such as the installation of interim classroom spaces and ramps and railings for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
The second phase has several parts, which are in various stages of completion. The historic schoolhouse has been moved and connected to utilities, although a nearby retaining wall is still under construction, according to officials. By August, the historic schoolhouse is projected to be available for use, while the new two-story building is estimated to be ready before the start of the spring semester in early 2027.
Phase 3, which is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027, will include the demolition of the remaining classroom building, the removal of the interim units, the installation of temporary staff parking, and the start of work on the playground. Phase 4 will demolish the kindergarten building and complete the new staff parking lot, while Phase 5 will complete all hardscape, irrigation, and landscaping.
Legally, construction is allowed from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturdays, according to Randy Lemons, the senior project manager. However, the plan is for construction workers to have 10-hour days with overtime on Saturdays. Deliveries will be scheduled between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. if possible.
Because of construction delays from Covid, the Palisades Fire, employees leaving the contractor, and the unexpected discovery of asbestos in places,the district and contractor are currently working to maintain a quick building pace, according to officials. The move of the historic building has been a focus in order to increase the school’s playground area by the time class begins in August. Throughout construction, playground space should be available for the children.
Some residents said they had not received notification of previous meetings about the project, while other residents mentioned attending meetings for years. However, varied officials said that the construction plans would not be changed at this point, and they had been approved by the district and the California Coastal Commission.
“This building is here; it's not going anywhere; it went through all the proper approvals,” said Principal Nicole Sheard, noting that the process had taken about eight years to reach this point. “We can sit here and talk about what's happened in the past, but my goal really is for this meeting--how are we moving forward? … Most of the people here are parents at the school that want to know when do our kids get their playground? When do they get to experience this new state-of-the-art building?”
Anyone interested in being notified about the project can contact Serrano at (213) 241-2258 or cp-maribel-serrano@lausd.net.
