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“She’s getting things done,” said Palisades resident Larry Vein, who runs the nonprofit Pali Strong.

Then Pali High was ravaged by fire in January.

Pali High resumed classes online Jan. 21, but that was always viewed as an imperfect short-term solution for the 2,445-student school.

The former Sears site spans more than 100,000 square feet and includes a sizable parking lot, making it the rare property that could accommodate Pali High’s large student body, which school leaders were intent on keeping together.

Pali High signed a six-month lease for the space and holds options to extend the deal; the cost of the lease and construction work to transform the building into a school will total about $11 million, Principal Pamela Magee said.