Dear Mission Times Courier Readers:

For 40 years, Patrick Henry High School has had performances, assemblies and meetings in an inadequate, elementary school type "cafetorium" at the campus that has also been called its "auditorium."  This facility does not reflect the school and community pride of the Patrick Henry students, teachers, parents and community members.  As a matter of fact, it has often been a point of shame.  Instead of permanent seats, there are plastic/wooden/metal folding chairs that are very old, rusting and must be set up and taken down.  This is also the school cafeteria space which is used daily to feed students.  Seating capacity in the Cafetorium is only 300 while Patrick Henry grade level sizes range from 450 to 750 students.  This means multiple class periods must be used for important presentations, which is very disruptive to class instructional time.  Because of these and many other reasons, the need for a true auditorium that the school and community can be proud of is clear. 

Pat Crowder, the principal of Patrick Henry stated that, "A true auditorium at Patrick Henry is an absolute need.  It will be a point of pride to the campus and community, and it will improve the school learning environment."  School Board Trustee Katherine Nakamura stated, "Now is the time to correct this 40 year old oversight via Proposition S.  The risk of inaction is that the opportunity may be lost for yet another generation."  The project also has the support of City Councilmember Marti Emerald. 

With the passage last November of Proposition S, the local school construction bond, a growing number of students, teachers, parents and community members are trying to convince the full San Diego Unified School Board to set aside funds to build true auditoriums at Patrick Henry and Morse High Schools, the only remaining two high schools that never had auditoriums.  Morse High School was built 5 years before Patrick Henry with the same type of Cafetorium.  The needs for both schools out weight the allocation of funds that is available for both sites.  Please show your support at the School Board Meeting on Tues. Sept. 29,  at 5:00pm at the San Diego Unified School District office (4100 Normal Street.)

Matt Kalal
Director of Instrumental Music
Patrick Henry High School
mkalal@sandi.net