by Vanessa Poster Beach Cities Health District Board of Directors Over the many years I have served this community as an elected official, I have seen the…
Dear ER:
In the 1980s, Hermosa Beach schools had an enrollment crisis, similar to today’s declining enrollment (“Hermosa cuts six teachers, including sole physical education teacher,” ER Mar 4, 2021). The answer was to get rid of the district and be absorbed, as the stepchild, into the Manhattan School District. Aviation High School was already on the chopping block. A small group of parents fought hard to remain a self-controlled district, albeit, a much scaled down version. The plan was to retain much of the property, for our posterity, should future needs arise. We were assured, by all the experts, that this area was too expensive for families to live here. School Board member Mary Lou Weiss, saved the day. A deal was carved out to allow Hermosa students to elect which high school they preferred, Mira Costa in Manhattan or Redondo Union in Redondo Beach. The city received what is now the Community Center and other perks. The school district leased out North School to a da