Guide to the Collection of Materials Relating to Public Education on the Palos Verdes Peninsula 015
Stella Castillo, Monique Sugimoto
Jeremy Berry-Cahn, Donna Chian
Palos Verdes Library District, Peninsula Center Library. Local History Center.
2016 10 26
701 Silver Spur Road
Rolling Hills Estates, California 90274
localhistory@pvld.org
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Palos Verdes Library District, Peninsula Center Library. Local History Center.
Title: Collection of Materials Relating to Public Education on the Palos Verdes Peninsula
Creator:
Van Note, Jeanne
Creator:
Palos Verdes School District (1925-1961)
Creator:
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (1961- )
Creator:
Palos Verdes Library District
Identifier/Call Number: 015
Physical Description:
3 Cubic Feet
6 letter document boxes, 2 legal document boxes, 8 oversize items in flat file
Date (bulk): 1937-1996 Inclusive
Physical Location: Local History Center
Abstract: Collection of materials relating to public education on the Peninsula from its beginnings in 1925 through the early 1980s.
The bulk of the collection documents the period 1955-1965 and covers the unification of the school district on the Peninsula
and several school bond elections.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation
[Name of item], Collection of Materials Relating to Public Education on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. (Collection 015). Local
History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.
Biographical / Historical
The Palos Verdes School District (PVSD) formed on January 26, 1925 as an elementary school district officially when unincorporated
Palos Verdes withdrew from the Los Angeles City Elementary School District. The District began by serving 26 students from
kindergarten through 8th grade in its first facility set up in two rooms above a drug store in Malaga Cove Plaza. High school
students were sent out of the District to attend Los Angeles City schools in Redondo Beach. The first official school on the
Peninsula, Malaga Cove School, opened in 1926 followed by Miraleste School in 1929. The school district continued to grow
and, between 1955 and 1965, enrollment went from 2,285 to 13,204 students.
Attempts to form a unified school district on the Peninsula, which would provide an educational program for all K-12 students
to attend school on the Peninsula failed to pass in 1953, 1954, and 1957. Finally, in October of 1960, voters elected to form
a unified school district. On July 1, 1961, PVSD officially unified and became the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
(PVPUSD). In September 1961 Palos Verdes High School, the first public high school on the Peninsula, opened with an enrollment
of 2,043 students.
By 1973 enrollment in the District reached a high of 17,836 students resulting in serious overcrowding. Various measures
were used to address the issue including redrawing attendance boundaries. The District also studied the viability of a year-round
schedule with double sessions, extended-day sessions, reduction of high school graduation requirements and the purchase of
portable classrooms.
PVPUSD changed greatly in the 1970s largely due to changes in the way the District was funded. Prior to 1972, most District
income came from local property taxes which were based on assessed property value. In 1974 however, student enrollment became
the most important factor in determining District income. While the District had a high enrollment in 1973, the next year
enrollment started to drop thus reducing the District's funding.
Due to budget shortfalls, the District cut student programs and started to lay off its teachers in 1975. Local efforts to
increase revenue limits per student were defeated. Through 1979, the District made further reductions in its staffing, closed
facilities and cut student programs including sports. In 1992, Miraleste High School and Palos Verdes High School were closed
and all high school students on the Peninsula were funneled to the former Rolling Hills High School campus, re-named Peninsula
High School.
As of October 2016, the PVPUSD serves the four cities on the Peninsula as well its unincorporated areas with enrollment of
approximately 11,500 students. The District includes: two early childhood centers, ten elementary schools, three intermediate
schools, two high schools and one continuation school. PVPUSD has repeatedly been recognized as a top performing school district
in California.
Jeanne Van Note was appointed to the PVSD Board of Trustees in 1956. She was elected as President of the Board in 1958 and
was President at the time of the school district unification election in 1960. Van Note retired from the school board in 1961.
Arrangement
Arranged into ten series alphabetically and thereunder chronologically. Series 10 is further arranged into subseries alphabetically
and thereunder chronologically.
Series 1: Correspondence 1955-1983; Bulk 1955-1960
Series 2: Reports and printed materials by Palos Verdes School District (PVSD)/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
(PVPUSD)
Series 3: Committees and associations
Series 4: Unification
Series 5: School Bond/Tax Elections
Series 6: Survey, 1957
Series 7: Reports on the Palos Verdes School District (PVSD)/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD)
Series 8: School Board/Board of Trustees
Series 9: Research materials and clippings
Series 10: School Materials
- Dapplegray Intermediate School, 1961-1967
- Lunada Bay Elementary School, 1959
- Malaga Cove School, 1937-1965
- Malaga Cove Intermediate School, 1966-1990
- Miraleste Elementary School, 1960-1982
- Miraleste High School, 1969; 1971
- Palos Verdes High School, 1961; 1972; 1976
- Pointe Vicente Elementary School, 1991
- Ridgecrest Intermediate School, 1983
- Rolling Hills High School, 1968
- Silver Spur Elementary School, 1984
- Unidentified School Materials
Scope and Contents
The collection includes correspondence, reports, clippings, research materials, drafts and results of a parent survey in 1957.
Much of the correspondence, survey materials and research notes are written by Jeanne Van Note.
Public schools noted within the collection include: Dapplegray Intermediate, La Cresta, Ladera Linda, Lunada Bay, Malaga Cove,
Malaga Cove Intermediate, Mira Catalina, Margate Intermediate, Mar Vista High (on the campus of Palos Verdes High), Miraleste
High, Miraleste Elementary, Montemalaga, Palos Verdes High, Pedregal Elementary, Peninsula High, Point Vicente, Portuguese
Bend, Rancho Vista Elementary, Ridgecrest Intermediate, Rolling Hills High, Rolling Hills Primary, Silver Spur Elementary,
Soleado Elementary, Valmonte, and Vista Grande Elementary.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Assembled from various donations and materials collected by the Library.
Processing Information
Initial rehousing and stabilization of materials by Stella Castillo. Final arrangement and description by Stella Castillo,
October 21, 2016. The arrangement scheme for the collection was imposed during processing.
Related Materials
Palos Verdes Homes Association Photo Collection Boxes 3, 28, 29, 30
School District Clippings Files
Yearbook Collection
Alpay, Beverly A., ed. "Long-range Comprehensive Master Plan: 1986-1991." Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA. 1987.
Local History Room 379.1535 Pal
"Commercial/Industrial Development School Fee Justification Study." David Taussig & Associates, Inc. January 2002. Newport
Beach, CA.
Local History Room 371.6 Commercial
Committee to Study Impact of Declining Enrollment. "Final Report of Committee to Study Impact of Declining Enrollment." December
1979
Local History Room R379.1535 Pal
District Advisory Committee on the Disposition of Unneeded School Buildings and Space. "Final Report of The 1982 District
Advisory Committee on the Disposition of Unneeded School Buildings and Space."
May 1982.
East Peninsula Education Council vs Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District: Transcript of Proceedings. May 10, 1988.
LHR R379.1535 East V.1
East Peninsula Education Council vs Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District: Appendix of frequently cited documents
filed… May 10, 1988.
LHR R379.1535 East V.2
East Peninsula Education Council vs Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District: Deposition of Sarajane Burrage. February
18, 1988.
LHR R379.1535 East V.3
East Peninsula Education Council vs Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District: Deposition of David Capeluto. February
23, 1988.
LHR R379.1535 East V.4
East Peninsula Education Council vs Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District: Deposition of Jack Price Volume 1. February
26, 1988.
LHR R379.1535 East V.5
East Peninsula Education Council vs Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District: Deposition of Jack Price Volume 2. February
29, 1988.
LHR R379.1535 East V.6
Education Evaluation Associates. "Feasibility study of year-round education and other alternatives: Prepared for Palos Verdes
Peninsula School District." Los Angeles, CA. January 1974.
Local History Room R371.236 Edu
"Establishment of a permanent location for the Rancho del Mar Continuation High School: Program commencing 1985-86 school
year." Michael Brandman Associates. Costa Mesa, CA. 1985.
Local History Room 374.8 Mic
"Feasibility study of year-round education and other alternatives: prepared for Palos Verdes Peninsula School District." Education
Evaluation Associates. January 1974.
R371.236 Edu
"Final Report of Committee to Advise on the Disposition of Unneeded School Buildings." Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA. April 1980.
Local History Room R371.6 Com
"Miraleste High School Closure: Final Environmental Impact Report." Michael Brandman Associates. Los Angeles, CA. November
1990.
Local History Room 371.6 Final
"Palos Verdes Peninsula Five-year deferred maintenance plan, 1987-88 – 1991-2: by project category, by school." March 7, 1988.
Local History Room R371.6 Palos
Palos Verdes Peninsula Five-year deferred maintenance plan, 1988-89 – 1992-93: by project category, by school." March 3, 1989.
Local History Room R371.6 Palos
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. "Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Long-Range Comprehensive Master
Plan." December 1981.
Local History Room R379.1535 Pal
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. "Staff Report on Educational and Financial Implications of EIR project and
Alternatives." Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA. 1990.
Local History Room 371.6 Palos
Palos Verdes School District. "The Report of the Survey: Palos Verdes School District." April 1956
Local History Room R371.7949 Pal
"Proposed formation of East Peninsula Unified School District. County Committee responses." February 24, 1988.
Local history Room R379.1535 Palos
"Residential development school fee justification study for Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District." December 19,
2001.
Local History Room 371.6 Residential
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Public schools
School districts
School districts--California--Palos Verdes Peninsula
Public Schools--California--Palos Verdes Peninsula
Palos Verdes School District (Calif.)
Education
Correspondence 1955-1983; Bulk 1955-1960
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the correspondence is dated May 1955-November 1960. Topics covered include bond votes, annexation, unification,
the Board of Trustees, 1957 survey, and the 1959 search for a school superintendent. Jeanne Van Note is the correspondent
and recipient of much of the correspondence in her capacity as President of the Board of Trustees. Correspondence also includes
a complete mailer from the John Birch Society in 1960 mailed to the Van Note residence.
Box 1
Correspondence
1955 May-1983 Jun
Box 1
Correspondence - John Birch Society
1960
Reports and printed materials by Palos Verdes School District (PVSD)/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD)
Scope and Contents
Reports and Printed Materials by Palos Verdes School District (PVSD)/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD)
include directories, annual reports, Course of Study Supplement, Guide to the PVSD, report to the community, statistical reports,
committee reports, scheduling and curriculum reports, test results, fiscal summaries, class of 1975 follow-up summary, and
a real estate bid packet. PVSD/PVPUSD newsletters include "The Green Sheet," School District newsletters to teachers and staff,
Superintendent Fortnightly Reports, School Board newsletter, and "Your Schools" newsletter.
Box 1
A Factual Guide on the Palos Verdes School District
1958 May
Box 1
Palos Verdes School District Annual Report
1960
Box 1
Palos Verdes School District Course of Study Supplement
1960
Box 1
The Green Sheet
1975 Apr-1978 Jun
Physical Description: 3 Folders
Box 2
Palos Verdes School District Directories
1960; undated
Box 2
Palos Verdes School District Newsletters
1958 Jan-1960 Apr with gaps
Box 2
Report to the Community - A Profile of Palos Verdes Peninsula School District
1969
Box 2
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Statistical Report
1966-1977 with gaps
Box 2
Reports and Printed Materials by Palos Verdes School District/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
1954 May-1983
Physical Description: 4 Folders
Box 3
Office of the Superintendent Fortnightly Reports
1959 Jul-1962 Jan
Box 3
Palos Verdes School District Newsletters
1954 Sep-1961 Mar with gaps
Box 3
Your Schools Newsletter
1964
Box 1
Palos Verdes Peninsula School District and East Peninsula Education Council - Memos and Resolutions
1986-1987
Committees and associations
Scope and Contents
Committees and associations include materials from the Good Schools Association, the Lay Advisory Committee, the Augmented
Los Angeles County Committee of the Palos Verdes District, the PTA, Save Our Schools Committee, and the Palos Verdes Faculty
Association Newsletter.
Box 3
Good Schools Association
1950-1956
Box 3
Lay Advisory Committee
1955-1957; undated
Box 3
Augmented Los Angeles County Committee of the Palos Verdes District Area
1956 May-1960 Jun
Box 3
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
1956-1996
Box 3
Save Our Schools Committee
1957
Box 3
Palos Verdes Faculty Association Reporter
1959 Oct-1961 Dec
Box 3
East Peninsula Education Council
1987-1988
Map_Case 1, drawer 8, folder 6
Good Schools Association flyers
1954
Map_Case 1, drawer 8, folder 6
PTA thanks Jane Bailey
1959
Unification
Scope and Contents
Unification materials include a timeline of Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) unification, voter materials
and mailers, proposals, voter information pamphlets including arguments for and against unification of the Palos Verdes School
District.
Box 3
Unification
1953-1960; undated
School Bond/Tax Elections
Scope and Contents
School Bond/Tax Elections materials include voter materials and mailers, agendas and strategy for the 1955 vote and minutes
from a meeting of the Citizen's Committee for School Bonds.
Box 3
School Bond/Tax Elections
1954-1960; undated
Map_Case 1, drawer 8, folder 6
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unifier
1957
Survey, 1957
Scope and Contents
The Survey in 1957 includes drafts of the survey including handwritten notes by Jeanne Van Note, tabulation instructions and
survey returns, results and final summary of findings.
Box 3
Tabulation, Results, Summary
1957
Reports on the Palos Verdes School District (PVSD)/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD)
Scope and Contents
Reports on the Palos Verdes School District (PVSD)/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) includes materials
generated by the Los Angeles County Superintendent, the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization, the
League of Women Voters, and the Fourth City Movement. Materials include reports on attendance boundaries and school district
finances, surveys of voter opinion, analysis of results on a test of mental maturity, Malaga Cove curriculum and planning,
assessments of school district performance, and special education planning reports and materials.
Box 4
Reports on the Palos Verdes School District (PVSD)/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD)
1950s-1980s
Physical Description: 4 Folders
Box 4
Analysis of Results, California Test of Mental Maturity
1957 Sep
Box 4
Malaga Cove Curriculum and Planning
1961-1962
Box 4
Profiles of School District Performance - California Assessment Program
1978-1980
Box 4
Special Education Planning Reports and Materials
1983
Box 4
High School Possibilities and El Segundo High Curriculum
1954
Map_Case 1, drawer 8, folder 6
Map of Los Angeles City High School District showing boundary of Palos Verdes Elementary School District and Torrance School
District
1956
Map_Case 1, drawer 8, folder 6
Palos Verdes Peninsula Community Study maps
1968 Jul
Map_Case 1, drawer 8, folder 6
School locations and tentative attendance boundaries within Palos Verdes School District
1960-1961; undated
School Board/Board of Trustees
Scope and Contents
Materials related to and by the Board include reports to the Board on school construction, meeting minutes, advisory council
reports, screening materials and processes for a superintendent, press releases and newsletters.
Box 4
Materials Related to and by the Board
1947-1985; undated
Map_Case 1, drawer 8, folder 6
School Board election supplement by League of Women Voters
1965
Research materials and clippings
Scope and Contents
Research materials and clippings regarding the Palos Verdes School District (PVSD)/Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
(PVPUSD) and also of education trends and developments. Many clippings from 1950-1960 feature annotations by Jeanne Van Note.
Box 4
Research Materials and Notes
1955-1962
School Materials
Scope and Contents
School materials include sporadic class photos, commencement, and event programs from Dapplegray, Lunada Bay, Malaga Cove,
Miraleste Elementary, Miraleste High, Palos Verdes High, Point Vicente School, Ridgecrest, Rolling Hills High and Silver Spur.
Malaga Cove materials include school commencement program, handbook and school calendar from 1937, time capsule letter and
photos from the class of 1940, and copies of the time capsule letters from the classes of 1965 and 1990.
Dapplegray Intermediate School, 1961-1967
Box 2
Dapplegray Intermediate School
1961-1967
Lunada Bay Elementary School, 1959
Box 2
Lunada Bay Elementary School
1959
Malaga Cove School, 1937-1965
Box 2
Malaga Cove School - Class of 1937
1937
Box 2
Malaga Cove School Programs
1938
Box 2
Malaga Cove School Class of 1940 Time Capsule Letter and Photos
1940
Box 2
Malaga Cove School - The Seaside Scribe Newsletter
1963-1964
Malaga Cove Intermediate School, 1966-1990
Box 2
Malaga Cove Intermediate School Handbooks
1964-1965
Box 2
Malaga Cove Intermediate School Class of 1965 Time Capsule Letter and Clippings
1965
Box 2
Malaga Cove Intermediate School Programs
1965
Box 2
Malaga Cove Intermediate School Student Drawings of Current Events
1965
Box 5
Malaga Cove Intermediate School Yearbooks
1965
Box 5
Malaga Cove Intermediate School Commencement Programs
1965; 1990
Box 5
Malaga Cove Intermediate School "Sea of Talent"
1965; 1967-1969; 1978-1979; 1984; 1986
Physical Description: 2 Folders
Box 5
Malaga Cove Intermediate School Visit from 1940 and 1965 graduates
1990 Feb 27
Scope and Contents
Contains photographs and correspondence
Box 5
Malaga Cove Intermediate School Class of 1990 Time Capsule and Clippings
1990
Box 5
Malaga Cove School Brochure and Art Postcard
undated
Miraleste Elementary School, 1960-1982
Box 5
Miraleste Elementary School Faculty and Class Photos
1962-1968
Physical Description: 5 Folders
Box 6
Miraleste Elementary School Faculty and Class Photos
1968-1978
Physical Description: 10 Folders
Box 7
Miraleste Elementary School Faculty and Class Photos
1978-1981
Physical Description: 3 Folders
Box 7
Miraleste Elementary School History, Fifty Years
1980
Box 7
Miraleste Elementary School Student Council Photos
1979-1981
Physical Description: 2 Folders
Box 7
Miraleste Elementary School Student Council Photos
undated
Box 7
Miraleste Elementary School Yearbook
1980-1982
Physical Description: 2 Folders
Miraleste High School, 1969; 1971
Box 7
Miraleste High School Programs
1969; 1971
Map_Case 1, drawer 8, folder 6
Miraleste High School Torreon
1968 Oct 16; Oct 30
Palos Verdes High School, 1961; 1972; 1976
Box 7
Palos Verdes High School Student Guide
1961
Box 7
Palos Verdes High School Program
1972
Box 7
Palos Verdes High School Western Association of School and Colleges Report
1976 Mar
Pointe Vicente Elementary School, 1991
Box 7
Point Vicente Elementary School "Famous People in Our World"
1991
Ridgecrest Intermediate School, 1983
Box 7
Ridgecrest Intermediate School Yearbook
1983
Rolling Hills High School, 1968
Box 7
Rolling Hills High School "Satori"
1968
Silver Spur Elementary School, 1984
Box 7
Silver Spur Elementary School Yearbook
1984
Unidentified School Materials
Box 7
Unidentified School Program
undated
