Some Laguna Beach High Structures Deemed 'Potentially Hazardous' in an Earthquake

In working with data researched and supplied by Laguna Beach Patch has learned of 12 "Letter 3" structures spread out over all four schools that make up the .

The state grades school construction projects using a four-letter rating system. Letter 4 is the lowest rating; Letter 1 is the best. According to state records, files on these projects have been closed without formal certifications.

Here is a list of where and what those Letter 3 projects are. Click on the following links to take you directly to those pages on the website of the state Department of General Services:

Laguna Beach High School - #105685
Laguna Beach High School - #105783
Laguna Beach High School - #106107
Laguna Beach High School - #106185
Laguna Beach High School - #104231
Thurston Middle - #101652
Thurston Middle - #104152
El Morro - #107380
El Morro - #102977
Top of the World - #101640
Top of the World - #104151
Top of the World - #100586

Additionally, to see two lists of the above-mentioned LBUSD schools and their Letter 3 grades, click on these links:

Projects List #1

Projects List #2

Interpreting whether these structures put students and faculty at risk is tricky. According to California Watch, some Letter 3 buildings in the state are closet Letter 4s. That's because state officials upgraded hundreds of buildings to Letter 3 in recent years without visiting the schools to make sure potential problems were fixed, California Watch reported.

In other instances, California Watch has found that buildings or structures listed as being potentially hazardous in an earthquake sometimes may no longer exist, such as a portable classroom that has since been moved off campus.

After being informed of California Watch and Laguna Beach Patch's findings, Eric Jetta, director of facilities and grounds for Laguna Beach Unified, said he was "basically green in this area," as both he and Norma Shelton, assistant superintendent of business services for district, arrived after the modernization and bond construction projects in question had been completed.

"I have made calls to the architects and engineers who were [hired by the district] at that time," Jetta told Patch, in an effort to find out further information regarding the Letter 3 projects missing certification. Jetta went on to say that he will be looking to gain more information on the Patch/California Watch findings and do research on some of the Letter 3 LBUSD facilities.

California Watch also identified four unnamed structures on the campus of , ranging from 1,914 to 27, 453 square feet, which "are in need of a detailed structural evaluation," with three of these structures described as being "potentially hazardous in an earthquake." According to the Division of the State Architect, there been "no seismic review or retrofits" of any of these four buildings. [For a list of the four structures, click here.] These structures are listed as not being in compliance with AB 300, a 2002 inventory of schools with potential seismic issues.

Jetta, however, said that this information is outdated and that the structures in question may no longer exist.

"The four applications listed ... with specific square footage were filed in 1962. There is no indication or reference to any of our existing structures."

Jetta also said that he has been in touch with officials from California's Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) in an effort to obtain more information for Laguna Beach Patch.

Laguna Beach Patch will have more on this story as it develops throughout the coming week.