Las Palmas Elementary
Quotes By Catagory

Sita Helms says unhealthy environment was motive for filing Williams Act claim

Jul 14, 2005
Sita Helms, Sun Post News "When your kids are in an unhealthy environment, you'll do whatever...but it never got rid of the smell." On June 16, approximately 50 parents, headed by Sita Helms, filed a complaint with Las Palmas Elementary School and Capistrano Unified School District, alleging unhealthy classroom conditions, deteriorated buildings, sewer back flow and more. Helms expressed concern because of the sewage smell in the kindergarten rooms and kids coming home sick from some kind of exposure in the portables. The children, she said, should be provided for because they are the No. 1 concern. She said parents try to make situations better at the 75 year-old school by cleaning or purchasing air filters, Helms said. She cleaned the kindergarten bathrooms thinking she could help with the smell.

Las Palmas mother says conditions at school are so bad, she tells children to wait to use bathroom at home

Jul 14, 2005
Kiki Macdonald, Sun Post News "Las Palmas is such a great school, I hate to complain, but when it comes to health, cleanliness and sanitation, I have to (say something)." For Kiki Macdonald, of San Clemente, it is a health and sanitary issue at Las Palmas Elementary School. Things at the school are in need of repair, she said, and she isn't sure what's going to be fixed with the remodel. Macdonald said she has heard of health problems related to mold and knows the bathrooms need help. She said she'll tell her children, unless it's really bad, to wait and go to the bathroom when they get home. In addition, she said the carpets are in need of attention.

Las Palmas parent concerned over effectiveness of repair efforts

Jul 14, 2005
Shannon Archbold, Sun Post Post News "No matter how hard they work, it's hard to keep up an old (75-year-old) facility... It's like putting a Band-Aid on it (the problem)." Archbold, a Capistrano Beach residient, believes school teachers, administration and staff are trying their hardest to make her children's school (Las Palmas Elementary) its best, but after watching the problems continue and trying to be patient as other pressing issues around the district arise, there she believes there comes a point when parents have to say enough is enough.

Las Palmas parent tired of district's misplaced priorities

Jul 14, 2005
Shannon Archbold, Sun Post Post News "Before I see another new school get another new lawn or sprinklers ... I want to see my school fixed." Archbold, a Las Palmas Elementary School mother, hasn't seen parents' patience with CUSD pay off as kids are ultimately not the No. 1 priority. In terms of the district's new administration building, Archbold sees the profit and cost benefits of having staff in one building, however, she feels the health and educational impact of an old building on children should come before that need. Archbold said the remodel at Las Palmas is a nice effort, but she wonders why a multipurpose room receives attention when kids won't go into the third bathroom because of the smell.

Las Palmas principal tries to take high road, but uses DOE to ignore parent concerns

Jul 14, 2005
Doug Kramer, Sun Post News "This point is important because neither I nor my colleagues in the district would ever tolerate a school having such deficiencies go without repair." In his letter to the parents, Las Palmas Elementary Principal Kramer talked about an unannounced visit by the Orange County Department of Education in May. Incredibly, even with foul smells and other obvious problems at the school, Kramer wrote that the visiting team found the school to have sufficient materials and had no visual signs of issues that needed addressing. The Orange County Department of Education continues to bat a thousand, turning another blind eye and providing cover for CUSD's failed facilities management.