Glendale City Council Unanimously Affirms Chamlian School’s Perpetual Use Variance

· March 21, 2025

GLENDALE—The Glendale City Council unanimously reaffirmed Chamlian Armenian School’s perpetual use variance, ensuring its continued academic excellence and cultural preservation for generations to come.

Chamlian’s community showed up in unprecedented numbers, with hundreds of passionate supporters filling the City Council chambers—students, parents, alumni, and faculty standing as one to defend the school’s mission. More than 50 heartfelt testimonies spoke to the school’s profound impact on its students, families, and the wider community.

Among the most moving voices were those of young Chamlian students, as well as alumni who have carried the school’s mission into some of the world’s most prestigious institutions. In an extraordinary display of loyalty and gratitude, over 10 distinguished alumni from Harvard, Stanford, Columbia Law, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Caltech, and Juilliard called in from across the country just to deliver their one-minute testimonies.

Dr. Talin Kargodorian, Head of School, expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support: “Tonight, we witnessed history. This victory is not just about securing a use variance – it is about safeguarding a legacy. Chamlian is where future leaders are cultivated, where Armenian heritage is preserved, and where academic excellence thrives. Our families, faculty, and alumni have spoken with one voice, and that voice echoes far beyond these chambers, it is the voice of generations to come.”

Chamlian School representatives thanked Mayor Elen Asatryan and the rest of Glendale City Council for making a fair and just decision.

A record-breaking 3,000 viewers tuned in live. And in solidarity, every Chamlian supporter in the room rose to their feet, standing together to protect what so many called “a jewel in the Jewel City.”

Sako Ourfalian, Chair of the Board of Regents, emphasized the school’s significance within the Armenian community and beyond: “We commend Dr. Kargodorian and Chamlian’s exemplary leadership in securing a unanimous City Council decision to grant the use variance in perpetuity. This achievement not only represents a significant victory for our school but also strengthens the foundation of our entire community’s future.”