LAUSD Cuts Ribbon on South Region Elementary School #4 - School Relieves Overcrowding at Four Neighborhood Campuses in South Gate

December 13, 2010

Contact: Shannon Haber
213.703.6958 (cell)

(Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Yolie Flores today joined elected officials, parents, guardians, teachers, students, community members and special guests to cut the ribbon on South Region Elementary School #4 (SRES #4).

SRES #4, located in the City of South Gate, opened its doors on August 11, 2010. The new school relieves Bryson, San Gabriel, San Miguel and State elementary schools. Aspire Public Schools (Aspire), a non-profit charter management organization, was selected by LAUSD to operate this new school.

“It gives me great pleasure to be here today to celebrate our new Aspire partnership school,” Flores said. “In this first round of the Public School Choice process we were fortunate to have one of the highest caliber academic plans for this school, with a proven track record. Aspire has been a great partner and exhibited great leadership and passion during the Public School Choice process, and for that I thank them. I am inspired at their commitment to provide a high quality educational program for the students of South Gate, and that is certainly reason to celebrate.”

“Today is a very special day for our students,” LAUSD Deputy Superintendent Dr. John Deasy said. “This entire South Region Elementary School #4 community is committed to providing the necessary support and encouragement to develop the creative thinkers, collaborative problem solvers and technologically skilled leaders of tomorrow.”

Aspire hopes to enrich all students’ opportunities to pursue rigorous educational opportunities and to enter and finish college. Aspire believes that strategic and well planned expansion and growth maintains the excellence of its program for students. Currently the Aspire organization operates 30 schools statewide and serves 10,000 students across California. Aspire clusters elementary and secondary schools within a close geographic area in order to provide students a kindergarten through 12th grade education. Aspire students are exposed to the College for Certain mantra early and can maintain it throughout their K-12 education.
“I am so proud of my 38 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and now I am able to play on the Aspire team and work for the children of LAUSD,” Aspire Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Roberta Benjamin said. “This is the best of both public school worlds!”

“The whole team at Aspire could not be more excited or more humbled by the opportunity to participate in this historic and collaborative effort between Aspire and LAUSD,” Aspire Public Schools Chief Executive Officer James Willcox said. “We look forward to making the District proud and serving the community of South Gate for years to come.”

School facilities include 31 classrooms, a library, multi-purpose room, gymnasium, food service area and lunch shelter, central administrative offices, playfields, and underground parking. SRES #4 shares a site with South Region Early Education (EEC) Center #2. The EEC will open at a later date.

“South Region Elementary School #4 is a safe and healthy neighborhood school built to serve the community inside and outside of the school day,” LAUSD Director of Project Execution Gregory Garcia said. “I am pleased to be cutting a ribbon on a school that will benefit students for generations to come.”

SRES #4 is part of the LAUSD’s current $19.5 billion New School Construction and Modernization Program. Its goal is to provide every student with the opportunity to attend a safe and healthy neighborhood school operating on a traditional, two-semester calendar. For more information, please visit www.laschools.org.

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Contributed by Facilities News