Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) joined community residents and leaders at the ground breaking ceremony for the new Ramona Opportunity High School at 231 South Alma Avenue.  The new school, when completed, will serve 300 students, twice as many as it currently serves.  The school is being reconfigured to allow for space for the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension’s Indiana Station.

Community officials in attendance included: Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina; Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar; LAUSD School Board Members David Tokofsky and Mónica García; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Roger Snoble; and LAUSD Superintendent David Brewer.

"Today is a great day for the East Los Angeles community and especially for all those who care about the mission and future of Ramona Opportunity High School," said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard who was instrumental in bringing the city, school district and Metro together to reach an agreement to reconstruct the school.  "I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make today's groundbreaking a reality.  This project is an important example of what we can accomplish when we focus the energies of diverse organizations toward a common goal."

In addition to making way for the Metro Gold Line's Eastside Extension, the new Ramona Opportunity High School will serve pregnant teens and other female students in need of an alternative learning environment in grades 7 - 12. The new school construction will meet current, more stringent education and building standards.

Metro is receiving a portion of land which the existing school facility now occupies.  In exchange for this property, Metro is acquiring additional land adjacent to the school site to make way for proper reconfiguration of the school and will help fund construction for the new school facility.  Phase 1 of the project, which includes administration, fifteen classrooms, an infant care facility, multipurpose room and food services, is expected to be completed in January 2009. Phase II, which includes the new gymnasium and the playfields, is expected to be completed December of 2009.

As part of the agreement reached between LAUSD, the City of Los Angeles and Metro, the new Ramona Opportunity High School will offer joint use activities facilitated by the City of Los Angeles through the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Community Development Department.  As their contribution to the project, the City has committed to facilitate an expansion of the after-school infant care program, City sponsored after-school sports and arts programs, City sponsored weekend/summer sports and arts program, and workforce training and development.

The Ramona Opportunity High School reconfiguration project is part of the LAUSD's $19.3 billion school construction program to build 145 schools by 2012. The program is designed to provide a neighborhood school on a traditional calendar for every student, eliminate involuntary bussing and create small learning communities in secondary schools. To date, LAUSD has completed 65 new schools and 51 additions, returning 136 schools to a 180-day, full year calendar and providing more than 68,000 new classroom seats for students throughout the District
 

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