July 1, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Brentwood Beat: Tight Traffic Standards For All Brentwood Schools, Not Just Archer

Brentwood Beat columnist Jeff Hall.
Brentwood Beat columnist Jeff Hall.

Brentwood School is close to releasing a DEIR (draft environmental impact report) discussing its plans to expand its East Campus so as to accommodate another 265 students, to be phased in over four years.

The East Campus, near Brentwood Village and close to the 405, at the north end of the VA property, is where middle (7-8) and upper school (9-12) students attend.

Brentwood School’s West Campus, at Sunset Boulevard and Saltair Avenue, currently accommodates K-6 students.

While new facilities are being proposed for both campuses, it is the East Campus (Middle and Upper) where the proposed increase in enrollment will take place.

According to the Brentwood School’s website, there are currently 230 Middle School students and 465 Upper School students at the East Campus. That’s a total of 695 students.

If an additional 265 students are added, that makes for a total of 960 students, an increase of 38 percent over current enrollment.

It is difficult to ascertain (as yet) what percentage of these students will arrive by bus, carpool, bicycle, skateboard or foot. From the point of view of a casual observer, it appears plenty of cars go in and out of the campus daily and that number will likely go up if Brentwood School’s plans are approved.

But immediate neighbors to the school don’t seem to mind much; there is a history of the Brentwood School and neighboring homeowner associations working closely together with an eye toward keeping traffic and noise impacts to a minimum.

Brentwood School is an outstanding school, something we should all be proud to have in the neighborhood. If there is a need to accommodate more students, that’s kind of the way of the world, is it not? As population continues to increase, we need more schools, wider roads, more offices, more restaurants – more everything, really.

But I’m still not sure I get why people came down so hard on Archer School when it said it wanted to upgrade its facility without ANY increase in student count. If traffic is the issue that makes everyone crazy, aren’t 265 additional students at Brentwood School far more impactful than zero new students at Archer? The two schools are within blocks of each other, all the same intersections will be impacted.

Of course, Brentwood School’s car trips can be mitigated via busing and carpooling. Archer, everyone agrees, has a very stringent busing policy, with more than 70 percent of its students bused daily.  If Brentwood School volunteered to agree to a similar standard, it’s possible car trips in and out of the school could actually go down, even with an enrollment increase.

I don’t have a firm fix on the numbers, I hope to soon.  I’ve been asking for this data for a while, but Brentwood School wanted to complete its DEIR first. As we headed to press, Brentwood School has informed me that more information will be forthcoming soon. By next issue I should know more.

I am not anti-Brentwood School, not at all. Brentwood News has been lucky to sponsor some amazing student interns who go to Brentwood School. These are absolutely terrific kids. But it does feel like Brentwood School gets something of a pass compared to the way people view Archer School, and it has never really been clear to me why this is the case.

I’ve asked around and there are two answers I have heard: 1) Brentwood School opened long ago when people didn’t worry so much about traffic, so, in a way, the school has been “grandfathered” in; and 2) as part of its private covenant with Brentwood School, the president of the Brentwood Homeowners Association (BHA) is prohibited from publicly challenging Brentwood School and its plans. That arrangement seems a little odd to this observer, but maybe there’s a good reason for this.

And maybe there’s nothing in need of challenging, I don’t know. But I think, as a starting place, it would be helpful to know how many car trips go in and out of Brentwood School each day – and what number of students come in via bus or carpool – and what the plans are for the future. Then we can at least deal with a full set of facts as we attempt to glean what, if any, added traffic impacts there will be.

Mike Bonin has said many times he thinks Brentwood School and other schools in the area should adhere to Archer-like traffic management standards. If we really care about traffic, this is good policy. And fair’s fair.  On Brentwood School’s website, one can read that Brentwood School inspires every student to think creatively, act ethically and shape a future with meaning.  Coming up with a very assertive traffic management program is consistent with all that. It’s a time to act creatively, ethically and with a goal of improving our collective future.

I hope to have some better numbers so I can discuss this more intelligently
next issue. In the meantime, if anyone has any thoughts on this matter, please send me an email:  jeffhall@brentwoodnewsonline.com.

Related Posts

(Video) Los Angeles County Supervisor from the 2nd district, Holly J. Mitchel, Gives a Powerful Speech

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Supervisor Mitchell Called on Residents to take action at the rally for Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano in Culver City.

Top Military Commander Urges Return of Troops Deployed to ICE Protest Response

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

General Requests 200 National Guard Soldiers Be Returned to California Wildfire Unit The senior U.S. military officer overseeing federal forces...

Second Victim Killed Alongside LAPD Sergeant in Brentwood 405 Crash Identified

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Authorities Confirm Garcia, 34, Died at the Scene, GoFundMe Launched  Authorities have identified the civilian who was killed alongside a...

The Westside Lights Up for July 4: Fireworks, Drone Shows, and Parades Return Across West Los Angeles

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

From Marina Del Rey’s Fireworks to Culver City’s 1980s-Themed Drone Show, Get Ready to Celebrate From fireworks over Marina del...

California Judge Rules FAIR Plan’s Smoke Damage Policy Unlawful

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Court Says Wildfire Insurance Program Illegally Denied Claims Legal protections for California homeowners took a step forward this week after...

(Video) Culver City Residents and City and County Leaders Rally for Disappeared Ice Cream Man Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

US Representative for California’s 37th Congressional District, Sydney Kamlager-Dove Speaks About What is happening to the disappeared.

Historic Sawtelle Nursery Site Could Become 40-Unit Townhome Complex

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Sawtelle Continues to Change as Nursery Site Faces Redevelopment Plans have been submitted to redevelop a nursery site, F.K. Nursery,...

Drake Slashes Price on Beverly Hills Estate to $79 Million Amid Market Slowdown

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Price Cut Adds to a Broader Retreat From His Los Angeles Real Estate Holdings. Musician Drake has reduced the price...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

Overdose Deaths Drop 22% in Los Angeles County, Marking Largest Decline on Record

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Fentanyl Fatalities Fell 37% as County Ramps up Funding for Prevention, Treatment Drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County declined...

Cinespia Brings Fireworks and Fan Favorites to Hollywood Forever This July

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Watch Top Gun, La La Land, and More Under the Stars at Hollywood Forever Cinespia, Los Angeles’ iconic outdoor movie...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Pedestrian Killed on 405 Freeway to State Route 90 Connector in Culver City 

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Fatal Crash on Culver City Adds to Growing Safety Concerns Early Friday, a pedestrian died after being struck by a...

EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles Returns with Star Chefs, Firefighter Tribute, and Wildfire Relief Efforts

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Culinary Festival Features Exclusive Restaurant Collabs, Support for Small Businesses  EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles, the celebrated food festival curated by The...

Supporters to Gather This Weekend for Longtime Culver City Paleta Seller Held in Detention

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Family and Neighbors Will Gather Sunday to Sell Paletas and Raise Funds Supporters will gather this Sunday at Veterans Park...