Loma Alta Preschool Prepares for Potential Relocation

Part of the plan for the calls for a preschool for autistic children to be relocated from its current home at as soon as next Winter.

That school, which is funded by the Los Angeles Universal Preschool program, accepts up to 40 children, including autistic and other special needs kids.  It was started in 2009 and represents a unique model of integrating special needs children with other children in a regular pre-school curriculum.

Dion Jackson, a representative of LAUP, said that any potential move will be a challenge, as autistic children do not thrive on change.  She said she has been in touch with Pasadena Unified School District officials, but so far has not seen plans for a Burbank facility.

"Any transition needs to be handled well," Jackson said. "Autistic children can be disturbed by change unless you do it carefully."

Closely replicating the classrooms and other facilities at Loma Alta would be an important part of plans for a new facility at Burbank, Jackson said.

The timing of the move could also potentially be disruptive. Originally, district officials planned to move the school by the beginning of the school year in September, but have since amended the plan to move it no earlier than this upcoming Winter.

However, PUSD board members have not yet approved the plan to relocate the school or several other facilities that officials have asked to move there.

In the mean time, LAUP will remain at Loma Alta at least for the Fall school session, according to David Azcarraga, the facilities chief for the district.

Regardless of where the facility ultimately goes, the school will be seeing some changes this upcoming year, Jackson said.  The closure of the Loma Alta campus means the teachers at the preschool, who are PUSD employees, could change.

But Jackson said the school is hoping to make the most of the changes: new teachers also mean new training opportunities, which could be an improvement for the school, she said.