New Study Reveals Seismic Dangers Near Arcadia Schools

A study released Thursday by California Watch reveals troubling information about the safety of California public schools, including identifying several schools in the that could be especially vulnerable in the event of an earthquake.

and both are located within a quarter mile of U.S. Geological Survey-designated fault lines.

In addition, no new construction is allowed at these schools under the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act, which was passed by the state legislature in 1971 and restricts construction on or near earthquake faults. 

Christina Aragon, AUSD’s assistant superintendent business services, confirmed to Patch that no new square footage can be added to these schools. In fact, the new state-of-the-art gym that recently opened at was intended to be built at Foothills, but was moved due to the construction restrictions, Aragon said.

Hugo Reid and Foothills, as well as , are also located near liquefaction zones, which can be highly volatile during earthquakes. Liquefaction occurs when water-saturated soil is shaken with enough force that the soil loses its strength and begins to liquefy into a quicksand-like substance.

California Watch also reports that AUSD has schools on the AB 300 list, which identifies school buildings that are especially vulnerable because of their age, structural design and proximity to active earthquake faults.

, and Dana Middle School, as well as Foothills, are all listed as being on the AB 300 list, according to California Watch. Aragon said that recent improvements and renovations to these schools under the passed in 2006 may have modernized these buildings to meet current safety standards.

“We are addressing [safety issues] as we come across it, but there is no funding for [improvements],” Aragon said.

All of the AUSD buildings met the safety standards of the time they were built, she added.

To view an interactive map of the AUSD schools affected, click here.

The 19-month California Watch investigation uncovered holes in the state's enforcement of seismic safety regulations for public schools.

California began regulating school architecture for seismic safety in 1933 with the Field Act, but data taken from the Division of the State Architect’s Office shows 20,000 school projects statewide never got final safety certifications. In the crunch to get schools built within the last few decades, state architects have been lax on enforcement, California Watch reported. 

A separate inventory completed nine years ago found 7,500 seismically risky school buildings in the state. Yet, California Watch reports that only two schools have been able to access a $200 million fund for upgrades. 

This story was produced using data provided to Patch by California Watch, the state's largest investigative reporting team and part of the Center for Investigative Reporting. Read more about with California Watch.

Patch will continue to look into the seismic safety issues and will report back when we have more information.