The Antelope Valley Times

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Stranded students stay at Palmdale school

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The Arvin students were housed overnight at the Palmdale Learning Plaza in the gymnasium on cots. [contributed]
The Arvin students were housed overnight at the Palmdale Learning Plaza in the gymnasium on cots. [contributed]
PALMDALE – About 120 fourth-graders on a field trip from Arvin, California, were unable to return home Thursday due to freeway closures. The closures, caused by torrential rains, flooding and mud slides, blocked the students’ busses on their way home from visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Luckily, the Palmdale School District stepped in.

“We got the call around 9 p.m.,” said Palmdale School District Superintendent Raul Maldonado. “We called our district’s emergency response team and found a solution that provided for the Arvin students’ safety and comfort.”

The Arvin students were housed overnight at the Palmdale Learning Plaza in the gymnasium on cots. Additional plans are being made for their safe return home, including finding a route that is open. Arvin, an agricultural community located about 15 miles southeast of Bakersfield, is primarily reached via Interstate 5 or Highway 58, both of which were subject to weather-related closures Thursday night.

In addition to housing, Palmdale School District Transportation Director Christina Celeste was working on getting the students home to Arvin by providing fuel and fresh drivers for their busses. California State Law places specific requirements on how long school bus drivers can drive, rest and sleep before transporting children.

“We are glad that Arvin reached out to us, that we could lend a hand to other members of our educational community,” said Maldonado. “We lead by example, as educators. If we want our students to learn to be good citizens who help one another, we need to teach through our own actions.”

“I’m so proud of our team,” Maldonado added. “They took plans we already had in place and quickly adapted them to provide for the students.”

The Arvin students were fed breakfast by Palmdale School District Friday morning and were expected to return home later Friday.

[Information via Palmdale School District.]

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14 comments for "Stranded students stay at Palmdale school"

  1. I am so glad to see Palmdale’s loving spirit. We raised our kids there from Kindergarten through High School 70’s through the 80’s. It was the best town to live in back then. My grown children are still very close with all their friends from school. God Bless the Palmdale School District, keep up the good work.

  2. Those are pretty nice cots and blankets. They look very similar to ones that are owned by a well-known, national volunteer organization that specializes in sheltering and feeding displaced citizens in school gymnasiums using only donated funds.

    It’s amazing that you did all of this without their help…..

  4. Great job, I’m speechless, I’m so happy that my kids are in the Palmdale school district, definitely you guys teach with a good and your own way to do the right things

  5. Way to go Palmdale School District. As a former employee of the district, I’m so proud of the kindness you showed students with no thought of what you get in return, but as Mr. Maldonado said, just being an example of a caring district. Example speaks much louder than words.
    Proud Alumni,
    Lon Herrera

  6. I love around the corner from the learning plaza and saw vehicles there late. I wondered what was going on. Good job Palmdale school district for pitching in.

  7. I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED HELPING OUR KIDS…MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS THERE IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL FOR ALL OF US HERE IN ARVIN…BUT WE WERE SO HAPPY TO KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU REACHED OUT AND HELPED OUR KIDS…WE KNEW THEY WERE SAFE….THANK YOU ALL AGAIN…TERRY JONES….

  8. Mr. Maldonado and staff- Way to go!!. What a beautiful and generous act of kindness extended to the students of Arvin! This is how you pay it foward!! Well done

  9. Thank you Palmdale for helping our Students. It’s a moment in their lives that they will never ever forget. It will be a beautiful memory in their minds thanks too your attentive hospitality .

  10. Wished we knew sooner. Would have love to donate breakfast to them. I’m glad to hear they were aid.

  11. It’s good to hear that there’s still people out there with a heart. They stop whatever they are doing to go out of there way to help children in need. Hope they enjoyed there stay here in Palmdale, Ca, and a safe ride home.