HELP! We need 5 minutes of your time...

As we reported last week, the SJUSD Board is presently awaiting the completion of a Facilities Master Plan (FMP) before it makes any public announcements regarding Measure N-funded projects. The DLR Group has conducted a series of public meetings where it received input from the community regarding improvements and/or enhancements at each school in the District.

The District is also seeking public input for the FMP via an ONLINE FORM. The intent was to have a form for each campus but as you can see, the form is generic.

How you can help (we need only 5 minutes!)

1. Click the above link.
2. Complete your name and select the appropriate radio buttons for questions on safety, academics, athletics. etc. (all fields are required). 
3. In the comment boxes at the end, PLEASE BE SURE THE NAME THE SAN JUAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (at El Camino High School) AS YOUR #1 DESIRE!

It takes all of 5 minutes but the results can last a lifetime. When you're done, please forward to a friend.

Thank you for your continued support to help us build a first-class visual and performing arts center that serves the students in the west end of the District and the community at large.

Focused and positive!

As the President of ecARTS, part of my "job description" is to make sure this organization remains focused on our goal and positive in our actions. Over the past couple of months I often had to remind myself of my own philosophy of "Attitude is Everything"!

Since August, we have experienced some setbacks that took us by surprise. However, in the past week some very positive things have occurred in our favor. Specifically, at the recent community forum administered by DLR, the company hired by the San Juan School District to present a master plan for measure N funding.

• El Camino staff, administration, students, parents, PTSA, and Athletic Boosters bonded together to inform DLR (and the San Juan School District) that our number one priority at El Camino is to build a state of the art 600 seat performing arts center with measure N funds.
• In addition, each of our feeder schools (Starr King, Arcade, Cowan, Mission Avenue) also desire a performing arts center that serves their student arts programs.
• El Camino’s presentation at the community forum was received with applause and cheers by our feeder schools.

It makes perfect sense that the district build a single facility to serve the needs of the entire west end of our district. This has always been our intention! El Camino has the space and is in a logical location.

With the support of our school community, ecARTS is in a powerful position to see our vision come to fruition. As discussed at our meeting on Tuesday, we will invite the DLR team to the fall band concert and winter madrigal dinner concert to allow them to actually see why there is a need for a new facility.

So, the point of this communication is to remind us all (including myself) why we came together and to keep our eye on the prize! Attitude really is everything!

Thank you all for everything you have done and continue to do for our cause.

Kevin Glaser