LOS ALAMITOS : Fire-Damaged School Has Enough Rooms

Los Alamitos Elementary School, which was damaged by a fire in May, will have enough classrooms available for students when classes resume Thursday.

David Hatton, an assistant superintendent of the Los Alamitos United School District, said Thursday that some students will use the temporary classrooms installed following the May 8 fire that destroyed five classrooms in the school’s north wing.

“The relocatable classrooms served us nicely through the remainder of (the last school) year,” Hatton said. “We will continue to use those classrooms.”

Students did not miss a school day as workers labored around the clock to install the temporary classrooms. The fire occurred on a Sunday and students were back on campus byMonday, school district officials said.

Arson is suspected in the fire that caused an estimated $500,000 damage. Police are still investigating, but no arrests have been made, Los Alamitos police Detective Stephen Trentinisaid.

Hatton said that renovations to the school at 10862 Bloomfield Ave. will begin in October, or as soon as the state’s architect approves the plans.

Since the school district has fire insurance, Hatton said, the estimated $700,000 cost for repairs, including building a new wing, will not come from school district funds. Construction is expected to be completed in the spring, he said.

The school has more than 600 students from kindergarten to fifth grade.