Montessori Preschool Asked to Pay Estimated Half-Million in Repairs to Remain on Site

Montessori Preschool was ordered by the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Tuesday night to foot what could be a nearly $500,000 bill for immediate infrastructure repairs, in addition to other costs, to remain at its current location at Ladera Linda Community Center.

The school’s lease at the center is set to expire Sept. 21. The council directed city staff not to renew the school's lease in March in light of costly repairs estimated in the millions of dollars needed to fully restore the 41-year-old structure.

At Tuesday’s meeting, after school supporters pleaded with council members for more time to come up with solutions, the council agreed to allow city staff and school officials to meet within the next month to further examine the costs of remaining on the site.

The school would need to pay for upgrades to electric, sewer, water and gas, in addition to the cost of portable classrooms on campus if they are needed during repairs to the school.

Solutions could include a combination of fixing the preschool’s infrastructure and possibly using portables, or the existing structure if it’s made acceptable for use this school year, according to city staff.

The arrangement would give the school full responsibility for all expenses incurred and is also intended to provide a nine-month lease extension for the coming school year.

Mayor Tom Long cautioned the large group of parents in attendance to be realistic about the school’s future, telling them to get on waiting lists for other schools, if not for this year, then for the next.

“It will likely cost millions of dollars to do what needs to be done,” he said.

School payment of up to millions of dollars in repairs are not negotiable, Councilman Douglas W. Stern said.

“You’re gonna pay the cost if you want to be there,” he said.

A building inspector listed problems with the school, which was described as “nearing the end of its life,” found during an inspection in 2008. Some deficiencies cited included a failure to meet fire-resistant standards, a lack of ramps for disabled access in certain areas, leaking water lines, recalled circuit breakers still in use and a lack of fully accessible restrooms.

There was some disagreement over whether the school was actually unsafe to occupy. According to the building inspector, there was no need to order teachers, students and staff to vacate the building. However, seismic safety concerns were raised in light of the building’s age.

Parents assured the council their children were safe, most asking members to prove the school was unsafe for use.

“Frankly, I’m not convinced that building is safe,” Long said. “I wouldn’t want to be working in it myself. If I had children, I wouldn’t want them in the building. ...  I think the way to look at it is, 'you’ve got to prove to me that it's safe.'"

The school serves 70 children and 60 families, and provides 12 jobs, Councilman Brian Campbell said.

“If the lease isn’t renewed … all that just gets obliterated,” he said.

One parent, Claudia Allen, of San Pedro, has a 3 1/2-year-old who attends the school. She said the possibility of not sending children to Montessori and having to find another school has been “tragic” for parents.

“We don’t want to go anywhere else,” she said.

Parents begged council members to let them stay at the center, some promising to devote all of their time to coming up with solutions.

But Long reminded concerned parents and staff that the issues weren’t just about money needed to repair the school.

“This isn’t just an issue about money,” he said. “We’re charged with … being a responsible landlord. … If we approve this, what’s next?”