Nick Cerofeci
Staff Writer
El Niño has caused Mira Costa High School to cancel outdoor sporting practices and games and implement extra maintenance measures.
According to Costa Vice Principal Jon Shaw, maintenance staff is clearing out debris and ensuring that the facilities and the cafeteria are clear of any safety hazards that El Niño’s precipitation may create. They are also guaranteeing that there are signs to protect students from slipping.
“Since Mira Costa is an outdoor campus, we are open and exposed to the elements,” Shaw said. “As a result, it forces everyone to be indoors during lunch and also has a huge impact on our athletic teams.”
Additionally, because an unusual warming of the Pacific Ocean causes El Niño and thus precipitation, the administration cancelled all Jan. 6 sports practices and games including one pre-season game for boys soccer. According to Shaw, the Costa administration decides to cancel sports when the field becomes unsafe for athletes to play on.
“Sometimes outside sports fields are unplayable because of the rain,” Shaw said. “We try to notify people as soon as possible when we decide to cancel outdoor practices or games.”
According to Costa Surf Team Coach Tracy Geller, El Niño has also affected the Costa surf team because the body of warm water out at sea directs storms towards the South Bay and creates warm water, great swells, and pollution along the coast.
“The downside of El Niño is that when it rains, everything out on the streets like dog poop, fertilizer, and oil, all ends up in the ocean,” Geller said. “When it first rains, the water is very toxic and dangerous.”
Shaw said that, despite El Niño’s challenges, Costa is going to carry on in the most usual way possible. If El Niño catalyzes further precipitation, the school will try its best to keep everyone safe, warm, and updated.
“Although the rain causes some inconveniences, it is helping with water conservation and allowing our grass on the sports fields to grow, Shaw said. “With the rain there’s negatives and positives but we are just gonna deal with it as it comes.”
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