5.1-Magnitude Quake That Shook Southland Nearly Shut Down Brea School

BREA (CBSLA.com) — The 5.1-magnitude quake that shook the Southland in March nearly forced a Brea elementary school to shut down.

Since the temblor, only the kindergarten and first-grade classes at Fanning Elementary are being held in portable buildings on campus.

At a Monday board meeting, the Brea Olinda Unified School District told parents that repairing the school would cost about $2 million and they only have $1 million to spend.

Officials said they could apply for grants, even sell property to make up for the short-fall, but it's a risk.

Parents urged the board to fix the school.

"This school board put on their agenda in their last meeting…'Redistricting.' You can't have item one on your agenda be 'Fanning Repairs' and item two be 'Redistricting' and not have the parents think you're about to close our school," David Forgues said. "We came out tonight to make sure they do the right thing and they fix our school like they should."

KCAL9's Stacey Butler reports that school officials said they will pay the $2 million needed to begin repairs, which includes asbestos abatement.

"I think [the meeting] went fine, I think they did the right thing, now let's see them get to work now," Forgues said.

Fanning Elementary will open in Fall 2014.