Pacific Palisades school educators are scrambling to find temporary learning space after a fire severely damaged the campus.
Palisades Charter High School officials said they are desperately looking for a larger space for students to gather and attend classes as the community works to rebuild.
“The entire student body was devastated,” said Charlie Speiser, a student at Palisades Charter High School. “It’s just a horrible sight to see a community and a school burn down.”
A large portion of Palisades Charter High School was destroyed by the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025. (KTLA) A large portion of Palisades Charter High School was destroyed by the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025. KTLA) The Palisades Fire in January destroyed much of Palisades Charter High School. January 7, 2025. (KTLA) A large portion of Palisades Charter High School was destroyed by the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025. (KTLA) A large portion of Palisades Charter High School was destroyed by the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025. January 7, 2025. (KTLA) A large portion of Palisades Charter High School has been destroyed. Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025 (KTLA) The Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025 destroyed a large portion of Palisades Charter High School. (KTLA)
Although the school is not part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, he said they need all the help they can get. They are looking for a large indoor or outdoor space that can be leased or donated for use by the school.
This space will allow students and staff to safely gather for classes until the campus rebuilds and next steps are determined. The high school serves approximately 3,000 students from more than 110 zip codes, according to the school’s website.
“We don’t want our kids to be spread out to other school districts, and we don’t want them to be on Zoom,” said Negeen Ben-Cohen, a parent working on the temporary relocation of the school. “We’re a charter school, but we’re a public school. We don’t have endowments or tuition money right now that we can repurpose to pay rent on another building to get back on our feet.”
“Our main goal is to keep our community together during this difficult time and ensure our students can continue their education with their friends, teachers, and colleagues,” a post on the school’s Facebook page said. The statement reads:
Palisades Charter High School officials are looking for:
Temporary classroom space or campus available for lease or donation Large indoor and outdoor spaces suitable for hosting students and teachers Support for local organizations who can assist with logistics and operations Volunteers to help with transportation. Setup and Adjustment Access to a nearby exercise range
“What we are going through right now is a really difficult time,” Speiser said. “We need an emergency fund because it’s so expensive. We’re separated, but I’ve never seen our community so bonded.”
Anyone with space available can email PCHSrecovery@palihigh.org. Donations to the school can be made here.
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