Students who attend public schools near the Lineage Logistics warehouse in Boyle Heights should be able to start the new school year safely on toxin-free campus, the Los Angeles Unified School District said Friday.
The district said its personnel is doing “deep, thorough cleaning” at all campus in Boyle Heights, including 54 schools located within 3 miles of the warehouse that burned for over a week last month.
More than a month after the flames were put out, neighbors and community members have death with the unbearable aftermath involving trash-like stench — coming from some 80 million pounds of food rotting inside the facility — as well as flies, pests and rodents. Some told NBC Los Angeles that they had to go to the emergency room or are experiencing worsening health conditions.
The district added that it’s inspecting and testing all campuses to make sure children return to toxin-free environments while replacing all air conditioning filters. Every classroom will also get air purifiers, the LAUSD said.
“When extraordinary events, like the fire in Boyle Heights, affect our communities, we take every necessary step to ensure our schoolhouses are ready to welcome students back to environments that support learning, belonging, and success,” Superintendent Andrés E. Chait said.
Although the new LAUSD school year begins on Aug. 12 — two days before the city-mandated deadline for Lineage Logistics to remove all leftover trash, including some 30 million pounds of decomposing food as of this week — district officials said they found “no evidence of hazardous conditions that would pose a risk to students or staff.” Lineage did not say whether it will be able to meet the Aug. 14 deadline.
Summer programs at several schools near the facility were relocated during and after the fire. But the district does not plan to relocate schools at the start of the new year although contingency plans would be in place if conditions change.
Families with questions and concerns can meet with administrative staff on campuses. Teams from the district’s Region East office — led by pupil services and attendance counselors — have been canvassing neighborhoods, going door-to-door, speaking with families affirming campuses are ready for the school year.
The superintendent said the district will “ramp up” its outreach before the first day of school.
The LAUSD has worked in partnership with city and county agencies to link residents with assistance and resources in the aftermath of the fire. The Los Angeles Education Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the district, has provided $100,000 in direct cash assistance to 350 Los Angeles Unified families impacted by the warehouse fire, along with seven pallets of air purifiers to help address immediate health and safety needs.
The district will be hosting a series of informational webinars for families in affected areas, where they can receive the latest information from experts. Webinars are scheduled for Wednesday and Aug. 10.
Families with questions or requests for support are encouraged to call Los Angeles Unified Family Hotline at 213-443-1300. More information is available here.
