High School to Reopen Monday After Ceiling Collapsed

Construction crews completed the removal of the entire stucco ceiling, approximately 75,000 square feet, at Long Beach High School that partially collapsed on Good Friday when the building was closed for spring recess.

Peter Wilk, a spokesman for the construction crew that has been renovating the school, said in a statement that the cleanup of the site will be completed Sunday morning, prior to the school reopening Monday as classes resume. 

“The fire department, other public agencies and engineers will review and evaluate the site on Sunday, April 15, prior to the planned re-opening of the school next week following the spring recess,” Wilk said.

The ceiling in the east parking area ground floor, located under the school’s second floor, collapsed on April 6, but there were no injuries or damage to cars. On April 9, Superintendent David Weiss announced that school officials decided to remove the entire suspended stucco ceiling that covers an overhang around the school and the ground floor's west parking area as a safety precaution.

“The decision to remove the remainder of the suspended ceiling is an important safety decision that completely removes the possibility of any further issues, since the structures will be gone,” Weiss said in a statement that was posted on the district’s website.