In the News: Newspaper

Firm owned by Oak Park district parent offers to earthquake-proof classrooms in 7 schools

Los Angeles Times, Ventura County, Monday, June 29, 1998

OAK PARK -- A well-placed connection is paying off for the Oak Park Unified School District.
.....All seven schools in the district will be fitted with earthquake-proofing devices over the summer, thanks to a Westlake Village company whose owner happens to be the father of two students at Red Oak Elementary.
....."My wife also teaches in the district," said Safe-T-Proof owner Michael Essrig, who will perform the work "at-cost, no-strings-attached."
.....School officials were thrilled when they heard about the cost-saving project, said Oaks Hills Elementary Principal Tony Knight.
....."This is an investment in prevention," he said. "This is a tune-up for our schools."
....."It's not really a favor, it's more of a public service," Essrig said. "It's something that I feel is needed at all schools, and I'm thrilled that Oak Park is taking the lead."
.....Heavy objects, such as televisions and computers, at all seven campuses will be fastened to the walls with flexible steel-wiring to keep them from flying around during an earthquake.
....."Safety is the main thing we're concerned about," Knight said. "The loss of the equipment is secondary to losing a child. These large objects can become horrible projectiles during even moderate earthquakes, and when you're dealing with small kids, it can become a life-and-death situation."
....."We want to make our schools like boats, where everything is fastened down."
.....While state law requires that California schools buildings be earthquake-safe, there are few requirements on fastening down objects inside the building, said Martin Klauss, director of business and administrative services for the district.
....."Unfortunately, we've fallen behind in doing it," he said. "It's a very large project, so it's fallen by the wayside as we've tried to complete other things."
.....After fasteners are installed on the district's existing equipment, officials will determine whether new equipment also will need to be tied down.
....."Not only is this getting us caught up, it's keeping us up-to-date as we purchase new items," Klauss said.
.....And then there's the added bonus of getting the work done for thousands of dollars less than what other contractors may have charged, he said.
....."It needed to be done, and right now, this looks like the most effective way to get it accomplished."
.....Essrig's other Southern California clients include Cal State Northridge, UCLA, MGM Studios, Hewlett-Packard and Teradyne in Agoura.