After blaze, a school homecoming

Pupils 'happy to be back' at Palisades campus, even in temporary bungalows

- BY HOWARD BLUME

Photographs by CARLIN STIEHL Los Angeles Times TEACHER Laurie Farrell celebrates with pupils returning to Marquez Charter Elementary, a school gutted in the January fires.

Students returned Tuesday morning to a temporary campus at the site of Marquez Charter Elementary School, about nine months after it burned to the ground in the devastating Palisades fire — prompting celebration and some concerns as the school and the surrounding community struggle to recover.

For the Los Angeles Unified School District, the quick return marked a signature accomplishment.

"Today is a representation of a promise made that became a promise kept," L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho said before a gathering at the school of officials and media.

"We feel great," said Nicolas Collings, who was walking up to the campus with his children, Charlie, a fourth-grader, and Chloe, who is in transitional kindergarten. The family had been displaced from their home for three months because of smoke damage. "It's good for the community."

"I'm happy to be back," Charlie agreed.

Teachers set up a raucous greeting line outside a simple metal gate, carrying white and blue pompoms and wearing matching headbands. They draped blue and white pearly necklaces on each student within reach and smothered the willing with hugs — even though they'd seen them the previous school day at Nora Sterry Elementary in Sawtelle, which had been the relocation site after the fire.

But one sign of the community’s upheaval is reflected in the school’s enrollment numbers.

Before the fire, Marquez had about 310 students. The current enrollment is 130, a drop of 58%. Before the fire, about 85% of students lived in the school's attendance zone in Pacific Palisades. Now about 75% of the original enrollment is dispersed elsewhere, per the district's estimate.

A fast turnaround