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The Los Angeles Unified School District will spend $2.2 billion to rebuild three schools destroyed or badly damaged in January’s deadly wildfires – and protect the entire district from natural disaster, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said at a press conference Tuesday.

“It’s the right investment at the right time for absolutely the right reasons,” Carvalho said. 

“Shame on us if we do not take the appropriate steps and measures to prepare for those types of events,” such as the fires, he added. 

The money for the project will initially come from a $9 billion school construction bond voters approved in November. But, the superintendent said, he hoped the federal government would quickly reimburse the district through FEMA relief programs. 

Carvalho said the district is still removing debris and inspecting the sites of three schools that burned in the Palisades fire last month — Palisades High, Marquez Elementary, and Palisades Elementary. 

Depending on rebuilding efforts, the district may be able to open portable buildings/classrooms onsite at all three schools for the 2025-2026 school year, he said. In the meantime, the three schools have relocated to neighboring campuses. 

As for the $2.2 billion, Carvalho said it will be split up and invested as follows:

Up to $725 million is for rebuilding the three schools most affected by the Palisades wildfires. 

Around $550 million will go toward natural disaster resilience investments. This includes better roofing. For example, certain buildings at Marquez were much less affected by the fires because they were newer and had metal roofs. This money will help implement these improvements across the district. 

Another portion of this money is for better HVAC systems. Additionally, Carvalho wants air purifiers in every single classroom, and new outdoor sensors with a larger radius that can detect air quality, wind speed, and direction. 

Finally, $700 million will be invested into greening and shading projects at schools across the district, Carvalho said. 

As the city lifted evacuation orders across large areas of Los Angeles impacted by the fires, the superintendent urged parents to send their children to school. LAUSD attendance was about 86% last week, compared to 93% average. 

LAUSD School Board president Scott Schmerelson said  students who have the ability to stick to their routines are better insulated from trauma from the fires.

“I’ve visited the schools, the kids are happy,” Schmerelson said. “They’re resilient, because they need routines. It’s up to us to make sure that our kids are safe in school and have those routines.”