School board approves alternative funding for Santa Su auditorium
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Pam Carter was smiling ear to ear.

Parents cried as they hugged the Santa Susana High School principal while students yelled in celebration Tuesday after the Simi Valley school board unanimously approved a plan to use alternative funding sources to help construct a new multipurpose auditorium on campus.

"Nobody deserves this more than my kids," Carter said before she was engulfed by giddy parents, students, teachers and other supporters. "I'm ecstatic, they're ecstatic. It's a great day for us."

The school board delayed the vote Feb. 26 when trustee Jeanne Davis couldn't attend that day's meeting because of a prior commitment. Davis was present Tuesday, and board president Rob Collins even joked that he had asked her to wear red "so everyone can see her."

Though the project is expected to be $4.3 million over its C4 bond budget, the board approved using $2 million from developer fees and $2.4 million from the C4 Bond Refunding Fund to make up the difference.

The auditorium is expected to cost about $12 million.

Lowell Schultze, associate superintendent of business and facilities, anticipated construction to begin by late summer or fall and for it to be finished by summer 2010.

More than 90 supporters of the project attended the meeting. Debbie Sandland, board clerk, said the board received 80 yellow cards from the public encouraging approval of the project.

Before voting, the board members shared their enthusiasm and support of the project.

"A performing arts school should have a performing arts auditorium," Collins said. "You deserve it, and the community deserves it, so we an all take advantage of it."

After the 5-0 vote, the audience stood on their feet to cheer.

"I'm elated," said Sue Martinez, president of the Performing Arts Center Team. "Lowell Schultze found the money. It's his work and the work of his staff. They refinanced it."

Judy Barry, who served on the school board from 1988 to 1996, was also in attendance. During her tenure, Barry supported the creation of Santa Susana High.

"I have watched this baby grow," Barry said of the magnet school, "and now I'm so pleased to see it's being provided with extra funding for the auditorium."

Though the majority of current students won't be able to enjoy the 420-seat auditorium by the time they graduate, freshmen like Jessie Standifer should. Students made up most of Tuesday's audience.

"I hope it's here by the time I graduate," said Standifer, 14, a technology academy student who will be a senior in 2010-11. "Santa Susana deserves this, and it's for everyone."

Standifer and sophomore Dylan Prettyman videotaped the milestone.

Prettyman, 16, did his best to keep the camera steady, even as he panned across the room to record the reaction.

"I tried not to move the camera too much. I had the urge to jump up and down," Prettyman said. "I'm super excited about it. It's going to be real nice."