News 03
Three out of 435
Facilities plan approved Plan entails new construction and renovations by Mason Seden-Hansen, Opinion Editor
A
new Facilities Master Plan (FMP) was approved on an April 12 board meeting by the school board. The plan outlines $193 million in construction, modernization, and renovation in the 11 schools in PRJUSD, the War Memorial stadium, and a new community aquatics complex. In addition, the FMP details 135 million dollars in bonds to help finance the renovations. The plan was created after 44 meetings and presentations before submission to the board. However, none of the elements of the plan are final, and no actual projects will begin until after surveying the community to see which renovations are supported by the public. “There is no commitment to any funding resources,” PRJUSD District Superintendent Chris Williams said about the current state of the FMP. The plan includes a total of 80 new classrooms at elementary and middle schools, including new two-story structures at Georgia Brown Elementary school and Daniel Lewis Middle School. In addition, the planned aquatics facility includes a 50-meter pool, a 25 meter lap pool, and a solar-powered water heating system, and would be located north of the eastern leg of the parking lot at PRHS. It also entails an improved parking and drop-off area, band room expansion, wrestling rooms, greenhouse relocation, and modernization of the cafeteria, student service,
locker room, restroom, classroom and administration offices for Paso Robles High School. However, as of now, no construction is currently scheduled. The FMP is only a “wish list” for what PRJUSD would like to build, but what will actually be built and when it will be built will be determined by an “effort by administration to get the plan out to the community,” PRJUSD chief business officer Scott Lathrop said. The construction is intended to begin 18 months to two years after the final board approval in November of this year, according to Lathrop. Some board members were not entirely behind the proposal. Board president Field Gibson said that he “could not visualize” the construction of a two story structure at an elementary school and also voiced concerns about funding resources. However, Gibson voted for the plan. “I have concerns, but this is not set in stone,” Gibson said. In contrast to Gibson, board member Chris Bausch voted against the proposal, due to concerns about funding. Another construction project, although unrelated to the FMP, will give PRHS a new track and will add synthetic grass to War Memorial stadium. This project, which has already been financed, will commence in June or July of this year, and will hopefully be completed before the next school year, according to Lathrop.
THE PLAN BY THE NUMBERS $190 MILLION in construction, modernization and rennovation
11 SCHOOLS in PRJUSD
44 MEETINGS
before submission to school board
80 CLASSROOMS in total
50 METER lap pool
Three juniors are chosen to attend conferences by Tegan Curren, Photographer After finishing their Junior year, upcoming seniors Graham Farrell, Matthew Horne, and Sadie Mae Mace will be attending the Boys and Girls State conferences. Elected by teachers, then successfully completing the interview process, these three Juniors were chosen to represent Paso Robles High School for their accomplishments and good reputations as students. On June 18 through June 25 Farrell and Horne will be keeping residence at Sacramento State University for Boys State where they will learn how the government system works by directly applying it throughout the camp. Through the duration of the camp they can run for office, develop public speaking skills, and pass and enforce laws. “I’m looking forward to meeting a lot of cool guys and being a part of a city and running it … [and] to be given the opportunity to learn more about the government system,” Farrell said. Farrell is a boy scout of six years and is working towards getting his Eagle Scout title. In Boy Scouts Farrell holds the position of Assistant Senior Patrol Leader which means that he helps the Senior Patrol Leader plan meetings and events, contacting participants and staff, and also promoting things like Nation Youth Leadership Training. As the Vice President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club on campus and a two sport athlete, Horne hopes to develop his leadership skills and break out of his comfort zone at Boys State this summer. “Going to Paso High and doing sports you get in this rhythm, in this track, that you stay in, so I’m looking forward to breaking that track and expanding areas of myself that I’ve never really gone into. I’m excited to become a more all-around balanced person and learn new life styles and new mindsets,” Horne said. Two days after Farrell and Horne conclude their week at Boys camp, Mace will begin her week at Girls State at Claremont Mckenna College from June 27 to July 1. Mace hopes that while she is at the camp she makes her mark in the conference government by creating a bill and passing it through the house. “I’m really looking forward to learning how the government works and meeting 500 other high school girls who are interested in making a change in government and sharing different ideas. I would like to make a bill to try and pass through the house dealing with animal rights… and see how I can use that to start making a change,” Mace said. Mace is the Website Managing Editor and News Editor for Crimson Newsmagazine and she has been a member of the Mock Trial team and the Vet Science team. Mace aspires to be a veterinarian, currently working at the Mission Animal Hospital and volunteering at Woods Humane Society, and has a strong love for animals. The bill she hopes to pass this upcoming summer would make puppy mills illegal and therefore create a healthier atmosphere for bred dogs.
AVID excels
All AVID students earn college spots by Jessica Cole, Co-Editor in Chief All 33 of the senior AVID students are accepted into four year universities. All students were accepted into at least two colleges, and 11 were accepted into five or more. “I’ve been dreaming of going to college since I was in sixth grade. Thanks to AVID, especially Mr. Wagner, I’m going to be living that dream at UCSB this fall. If it weren’t for his continuous reminders to keep moving forward I probably would’ve gotten caught up in all the stress of applying and wouldn’t have finished. I am extremely grateful for him and the AVID program.” said senior Lizette Juarez, who was one of only two seniors to be accepted at seven of the nine colleges that she applied to. The rest of the seniors committed to their colleges by May 1.
05.26.16
Crimson Newsmagazine crimsonnewsmagazine.org