In recent weeks, some Pali students and staff have raised concerns about possible hazardous materials at Pali South, security on-campus and the safety of the surrounding area. Situated in the heart of downtown Santa Monica, Pali South was quickly retrofitted into a school, despite originally being a Sears, Roebuck and Company Department store. 

Concerns about the safety of the surrounding area came from the recent climb in the homeless population compared to other Los Angeles communities, and the potential hazardous materials at the temporary campus, on top of student and staff health issues, has raised the question of the safety of Pali South.

Sophomore Mathew Sargoli touched on his own experiences in hearing about the alleged teacher health issues at the hands of the new schooling building, explaining his concern about harmful pollutants at Pali South.

“There was a teacher who had a health issue and then the teacher right next door had the [supposed] same health issue right after,” Sargoli said. “I feel like that’s just not something that should really happen at a school, and if it’s being caused by [toxic] materials, I feel that shows that the Sears building isn’t adequate for a school environment.”

Senior Sammy Dunn shared the shock of seeing a teacher experience a health issue, adding that it was too soon to say that the building was at fault. 

“It was very traumatizing to see [the teacher having the health issue], but… without formal and professional inspection, I don’t think that we can say the recent faintings are due to the building,” Dunn said.

Though some students and staff have raised concerns about toxic materials, Pali executive director and principal Dr. Pamela Magee voiced that the health issues have not been tied to Pali South.

“No health related incidents have been determined to be directly related to the Sears building,” Magee said. “The reported building concerns were related to air quality inside the Sears building. PCHS responds immediately to all safety concerns by investigating and addressing any findings appropriately. Testing at Pali South included an inspection conducted by the local gas department. In an abundance of caution, steps currently being taken to address concerns are frequently changing air filters throughout the building and providing air purifiers in offices and classrooms. Air quality monitors on all floors and throughout the building are checked regularly.”

In addition to his concerns about toxic materials, Sargoli expressed worries about evacuation plans and campus security given the layout and location of Pali South.

“When we had our evacuation drill, we just went outside and there was no order or anything. No one really knew what they were doing. Everyone easily got lost from their classes,” Sargoli said. 

Dunn corroborated this concern. 

“The only problem with the building that I’ve thought about is if there is an emergency, it is scary to think about what that would look like getting out of there,” Dunn said. 

Some students have also expressed concern about where Pali South is located within Downtown Santa Monica.

Sargoli said that one of his biggest safety concerns about the Sears building has been that individuals could easily sneak onto campus, which was reflected in  the recent security breach when a homeless individual entered campus. One safety incident Sargoli specifically noted regarding the safety of the area surrounding Pali South was a pedestrian fatality on the eastbound side of the McClure Tunnel that he witnessed and called “really surprising and disturbing.”

This incident, along with at least two other fatalities witnessed by some students led to administration taking active steps in response.

“​​These are extremely unfortunate occurrences,” Magee said regarding the incidents. “The school’s approach is to inform the school community and provide resources for support both on and off campus.”

At the same time, some students are unconcerned about the surrounding area. One of those students is Dunn.

“I know a lot has happened, not to me personally, but to a lot of other students and I think it can be stressful for some people,” Dunn stated. “For me it is not because I have grown up in Santa Monica… So everything that has happened in terms of the surrounding area, I’m very unfazed by it… When you go from a place like Pali, which is the safest community, especially for teenagers and little kids growing up, to the middle of the city, it can be very overwhelming for a lot of people.”

However, both Sargoli and Dunn said they were frustrated with the lack of timely communication from administration about the return to the Temescal campus, for which they both said they are eagerly awaiting. Recently, it has been announced that Pali’s return has been delayed further to late January.

“I hate how my teachers don’t even know what’s going on,” Sargoli said. “And if you ask the counselors, they don’t even know what’s going on… it feels like even the administration doesn’t know what’s really going on and what they’re going to do.”

Despite the numerous concerns that arose from Pali’s unique circumstances, Dunn expresses his admiration of the Pali community’s ability to adapt.

“[The school community] was put in the crummiest situation possible that was completely out of our control. I think the way everyone handled it was so amazing, it’s out of a movie,” Dunn said. “Not a lot of kids can go from having the best California high school experience going to school outside, to then being online for two months to then going to school in a department store. I think it’s really incredible what Pali has accomplished.”