At the request of some members of the Lum Community, the District has set aside time for presentation by a group of Lum parents/guardians. That group has submitted the following for Board and community consideration.
On April 26, 2017 the Alameda Unified School District publicly stated that there are possible unsafe building conditions at Lum Elementary in the event of a major earthquake, and is recommending that the AUSD Board vote to close the school and relocate students as of June 8, 2017. The Board is scheduled to vote on this recommendation on May 23, 2017.
Following the April 26th announcement, parents at Lum started our own District Advisory Committee (Lum DAC), in order to ensure safety and welfare of the Lum community, to work in cooperation with Board of Education and the AUSD, and to ensure the best possible solution for the entire AUSD and larger Alameda community.
In the weeks since we first learned that the AUSD was recommending closure and relocation of all 500+ Lum students to other AUSD schools, the Lum DAC has gathered together experts to help us assess the information upon which the AUSD is basing its recommendation. We will present additional findings, feasible alternatives to closure, and renew our demand that the Board delay closure so that true data and analysis can be completed and alternatives can be properly explored and considered. This cannot remain a binary choice between just two options, to close Lum or leave it open. The Board MUST be allowed to vote on a 3rd option.
Lum DAC will present evidence and analysis in support of it’s demand and recommendation that the Board add a “3rd” voting option to the May 23, 2017 agenda, that would allow LUM TO REMAIN OPEN for the 2017-2018 school year, while further information, analysis and planning is conducted.
Presenters: Kelly Scott, Lum Advisory Committee, President Lum PTA;
Joe Keiser, Esq., Lum Advisory Committee;
Calvin Wong, former Director of Building Services, City Engineer, and Chief Building Official for City of Oakland;
Calin Smith, Structural Engineer;
John Grimaldi, SSFFD Captain
Submitted By: Joe Keiser, Esq., Lum Advisory Committee