SOLANO AVE. PTA

PTA Position Statement in Support of Planned Construction

POSITION STATEMENT OF THE SOLANO AVENUE PTA
The Solano Avenue PTA strongly supports the Solano Avenue Elementary School Modernization Project, as approved by the LAUSD Board of Education. The current plan restores the original auditorium to its intended purpose, replaces portables with permanent classroom space, brings the campus into alignment with modern facilities practices, and creates new playground space with special consideration given to the distinct needs of children of different grade levels. We believe that the academic achievement, well-being, and security of current and future Solano students will be greatly enhanced under this plan, and our support of the plan is a reflection of our commitment to those students. However, our membership has expressed serious concerns in at least two areas.

Included in the plan is a new pathway to accommodate the use of the pedestrian tunnel under the northbound 110 freeway. We urge LAUSD to redouble its efforts to ensure the safety of the people who will use this route. The plan is not yet explicit about design features that would provide the required level of security along the proposed pathway, and in this regard, we believe it is inadequate. However, we believe that the route itself, which would pass between the playground and the un-fenced staff parking lot, represents the best available compromise between the needs of Solano students and staff and those of the public.

LAUSD must also answer questions regarding the health risk to children who will be exposed to two years of proximity to construction activity, with little or no access to dust free play space.

Parties acting in good faith, with the genuine objective of crafting consensus solutions to these problems, should continue their efforts concurrently with the early phases of construction, which should begin immediately. To that end, we urge the LAUSD to create an advisory committee of local residents and PTA members charged with resolving these health and safety concerns for the project.

The Solano Avenue PTA is committed to a program of advocacy on behalf of the plan under the authority of this statement, wherever the need should arise, and wherever such advocacy is consistent with the PTA's broader mission as the voice of the students, parents, teachers, and staff that it represents.

AMENDED AND RATIFIED BY THE ASSOCIATION 7/22/13

PTA