L.A. School Board may discuss Wilmington project
Local LAUSD Trustee Richard Vladovic, who represents the San Pedro-to-Watts area, is lobbying the district to reconsider the location for a new K-8 school in Wilmington. He will seek a vote at Tuesday's board meeting.
Since July 2006, the district has been developing plans for a school that would wipe out a commercial block bounded by Avalon Boulevard, L Street, Broad Avenue and M Street in the heart of Wilmington's commercial district.
Community opposition to the district's choice of location has caused Vladovic to seek more community input to potentially choose a new site for the school, he said. If the project moves forward as is, it would force out a Wells Fargo bank, Latino market and other shops and homes on 16 lots.
The initial plan called for a "span" school to add 1,278 seats to relieve crowding at Fries Avenue, Gulf Avenue and Hawaiian Avenue elementary schools and Wilmington Middle School. On Monday, Vladovic said he would favor a school adding as many as 700 seats.
Since Vladovic submitted his request less than a week before Tuesday's meeting, the board must first agree to consider the item, before it takes up Vladovic's request to halt work on the current project. The meeting starts at 1 p.m. Tuesday at LAUSD's downtown board room, 333 S. Beaudry Ave.