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Parents and students urge LAUSD to finish promised Sharp Elementary green yard by summer
Summary
Multiple Sharp Elementary parents, students and community‑school staff told the committee the school's greening project has been delayed since 2023, that rising costs have reduced planned green space, and asked for a clear, realistic timeline and better communication from the district.
Dozens of Sharp Avenue Elementary parents, students and community‑school representatives urged the Greening Schools and Climate Resilience Committee to accelerate a long‑delayed schoolyard greening project and to provide transparent timelines.
"The district's commitment to greening schools and reaching its goal of 30% green by 2035 is important and appreciated," said Satisha Gudinho, community‑school coordinator at Sharp, recounting that Sharp was selected for a project in 2023 but that construction has been delayed and the scope has been reduced because of rising costs. "We are now being told the construction will begin this summer," she said, and requested a clear, consistent channel of communication.
Parents and students gave first‑hand accounts of current conditions at Sharp: community‑school representative Lucy Gutierrez reported that only about 6% of the campus is green space with roughly 25 trees, and said the community ranks in the 97th percentile for pollution. Students described injuries on hard play surfaces and called for grass, shade trees and safer play areas. "I fell and scraped my knees and I got hurt badly," third‑grader Marilyn Vea told the committee.
Several speakers asked the board to ensure promised funds go into physical improvements rather than covering district fees; coalition partners earlier in the meeting said district fees have reduced the amount of partner‑raised funding available for on‑the‑ground work.
Parents said community engagement has been sustained — organizing, meeting with board offices and the nonprofit Land Trust — but added that repeated delays risk eroding trust. "Please don't make us go back and tell our children that once again nothing happened," parent Nathan Cruz said. Committee members acknowledged the urgency and noted staff and coalition partners will continue coordination on scheduling and funding details.
No formal board action was taken; several speakers asked to be kept apprised of scheduling and reimbursement decisions.
