District prepares campus for Lynwood High students

Wave Staff Report

LYNWOOD — Lynwood High School will return to its original campus on Bullis Road when the 2021-22 school year begins Aug. 19.

Multiple upgrades are taking place across campus, including the addition of new portable classrooms featuring high school amenities and new technology, as well as updates to the dance room and locker rooms.

The campus modifications also include updated classrooms and science labs, and a renovated quad with added greenery. A new technology hub will be installed next spring.

“We look forward to welcoming our [students] back to the newly improved Lynwood High School Bullis campus,” Superintendent Dr. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite said. “Prior to housing Lynwood Middle School in recent years, the Bullis campus served as the original site of Lynwood High School, which has aided in a smooth transition as we navigate our instructional realignment.”

The Bullis campus features a recently remodeled athletics field, as well as a full-sized band room. The district’s athletics field, located adjacent to the Lynwood High School campus at 4050 Imperial Highway, will be available for sports practices and games.

All other LHS academic programs, athletics and extracurricular clubs will be available to students at the Bullis campus.

District officials announced in June that they were shifting Lynwood High School back to the Bullis campus for the 2021-22 school year after deciding to demolish the G Building on the Imperial Highway campus after ceiling panels fell from the building in June 2020 while the campus was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A report by Petra Structural Engineers, an engineering firm hired to inspect the safety of campus facilities deemed Building G, built as part of the new Lynwood High campus in 2020 was “poorly built.”

In May, the district hired the legal firm Burke, Williams & Sorensen to evaluate and start claims against the parties involved in the shoddy facility construction and installation of the weak outdoor ceiling panels.

The district will shift students from Lynwood Middle School to Hostler and Cesar Chavez middle schools to make room for Lynwood High students on the middle school campus.

“Our top priority remains ensuring the safety of our students and staff, while providing … engaging academic programs and exceptional athletic, arts and community service opportunities,” Lynwood school board President Maria G. Lopez said.