Performing arts center to open doors spring of 2018 | Fundraising begins for furnishings

Following a vote on February 9th, San Juan Unified District staff and the school site are now moving forward on a state-of-the-art performing arts center at El Camino Fundamental High School.  The bidding process will begin in March and conclude by June 2016.  We anticipate construction to begin in February 2017, with doors opening in the spring of 2018.

While the final design may include some alterations, a user group including band director Kevin Glaser, choir teacher David Vanderbout, and ECHS parents and students developed a list of components to be included in the performing arts center.  The theater will include 500 fixed seats (with room for approximately 100 extra chairs to be set up to accommodate larger crowds), a large stage, and dressing rooms.  The project design also includes a lobby, backstage area, theater lighting, restrooms, and a control room.  Acoustical engineers will be consulted to maximize sound quality in the building.

The 11,593-square-foot building will be constructed within the current senior parking lot.  The lobby will have space to display artwork, a merchandise concession area, ticket booth and men’s and women’s restrooms, and current designs include a covered outdoor area that will serve as an extension of the lobby.

Future enhancements could include new shop classrooms, enhanced street access to the performing arts center, and beautification of the landscaping to increase curb appeal. 

Ten million dollars in Measure N funds will go toward building the performing arts center itself.  However, all the elements that go into staging a concert or production will not be included.  Therefore, a fundraising committee is hard at work, dreaming up ways to raise funds to purchase all the items we’ll need to put on a good show.  (The committee has also been looking at possible grants for this purpose, and the performing arts center will remain on the list for future STARS donations.) 

Would you like to help?  The ecARTS committee welcomes new members!  Watch this space for announcements about upcoming meetings.

Donations are also gladly accepted, whether they are general contributions or donations for specific item.  Here are some of the items we'll need, along with their estimated costs. Please spread the word!

Stage Equipment

• Music Stands $2,500
• Choral Risers $3,500
• Stage Risers $5,000
• Stage Shells $10,000
• Conductor Podium and Music Stand $2,000
• Musician Chairs (stage and pit orchestra) $7,000

Large, non-portable instruments

• Timpani $15,000
• Bass Drum $1,000
• Mallets (xylophone, marimba, vibraphone) $15,000
• Grand Piano $80,000

Support Equipment

• Make-up Tables and Mirrors $500
• Costume Racks and Storage $500
• Shop Equipment for Set Design $5,000

Box Office and Manager's Office Equipment 

• Desk, shelves, computer with ticket sale software, printer, copier $6,000

Concession Appliances and Equipment

• Refrigerator, microwave, soda dispenser, popcorn machine $4,000

Gallery Equipment

• Pedestals and Movable Walls $3,000

Three easy ways to donate:

1. Click the DONATE button above and to the right
2. Send a check payable to ecARTS to Kevin Glaser, El Camino High School, 4300 El Camino Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821.
3. Contact Kevin Glaser at kglaser@sanjuan.edu or (916) 971-7449. 

Keep up on El Camino's project and all Measure N signature projects at www.sanjuan.edu/hsprojects.