Superintendent’s Message: Santa Monica Welcomes Palisades Charter High School Students and Staff to Santa Monica
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and Community Members,
I hope you had a restful and enjoyable spring break with family and friends. I was able to recharge a bit as we return on Monday, April 21, 2025, to the final stretch of the 2024-25 school year.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to families and staff of Palisades Charter High School who have moved into the old Sears building on Fourth Street near Colorado following damage by the Palisades fire to their beloved campus. Students and staff, many of whom have lost homes or continue to be displaced, have been distance teaching and learning since late January. Staff starts at this new temporary location on Monday, April 21 and students start on Tuesday, April 22. Work is being done to repair and restore their campus; however, it will not reopen for this school year.
With approximately 2,200 Palisades students, you will likely notice additional traffic in the areas around Samohi, Lincoln Boulevard, Fourth Street, Colorado and the 10 freeway on and offramps. The City of Santa Monica is working closely with Pali HS leadership to ensure the best possible situation for all, particularly during morning drop off and after school pick up times. We have also been involved in these conversations, and the Santa Monica Police Department will be on hand for safety purposes.
We encourage everyone to be patient, take a little extra time and pay attention to new patterns of students and parents walking and driving in the area, many who may be walking from the Metro station or bus drop off zone near Downtown Santa Monica.
This is not an easy situation for these families and staff, and we are happy they were able to locate a facility that could accommodate all of them not too far from their campus on such short notice. Since the fire, we have been hosting many Pali HS sports teams and groups at our campus facilities and fields. This partnership will continue for as long as needed. We are happy we are able to able provide this sense of normalcy to the Palisades community.
Please join me in welcoming our new neighbors wherever you see them in our neighborhoods, shops and restaurants, and enjoying all that Santa Monica has to offer.
Sincerely,
Dr. Antonio Shelton
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