Monrovia School Link

Monrovia School Link ~ Number 164a ~ March 24, 2006
I would have liked to get a picture of the students at their desks to show how tight it is (Rich said the classrooms are accomodating more than the maximum number of students they were built for), but I'm not supposed to show faces, so I couldn't. But I did sneak to the rear to shap this picture to show how the back of the room is cluttered with equipment because of the lack of storage space.


Rich said that modern science education requires computers, but there's no room for computers in these classrooms. Students have to get their computer assignments, go over to the school library to work on computers there, then come back. Very inconvenient.

Also, because of the lack of labs, it is very difficult for classes to get lab time. And because of the lack of regular classroom space, the labs are also used for lectures, which further limits their availability for lab work.

Rich said the school needs to have two Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry classes. It only has room for one. It also needs two physics and biology AP classes, but it only has room for one of each. Also, he said, the honors classes are similarly limited.

So basically, the problem is not structural. The science building is a solid-looking structure that looks as if it could last another hundred years, it's just that there's no room.

If the bond passes, the district will construct a modern science building and refurbish the old science building for regular classes.

Here's a shot of where the new science building will be built if the bond passes.


Although the temporary buildings on the east side of the campus are not going to be replaced if the bond passes, they're not in great shape. Rich said they've been there since the 1960s, and have dry rot. I snapped a picture of the dry rot. It's not just bare wood. I poked it and it's mushy. Other spots on the walls are covered with metal plate to cover dry rot holes.


Next, the gymnasium. It looks as if it has been well maintained, but Rich said that it's too small to accomodate sports events and spectators. He said the gym has a legal limit of 525 people, and that "any game will pack it out." He said the school has had to turn away 1,000 people at times.

Also, the seating is the kind that collapses up against the walls. But when it is pulled out for people to sit on it comes out way too close to the court. I couldn't take pictures because there were too many students, and, again, I'm not supposed to take their pictures.

If passed, the bond money will pay for a new gym, which would go here, on the north side of campus. The old one will be used for practice.


Next, seating at the football stadium. Rich said the school used to have one of those stadium-seating-locker-room type buildings, but it rotted years ago and had to be torn down. Now, the seating is just seating - no locker rooms or anything.


Also, Rich said, the wooden planking needs to be constantly replaced. Here's a picture of a step. It's still sturdy, but I'm sure that with weathering and foot traffic, that he is right about it being a maintenance problem.



Next, we visited the classrooms for video technology room and photography. If the bond passes, these would be refurbished. Both rooms are a bit shabby, with broken windows and equipment cluttered in the back of the photo room. Not a great shot, here, but you can kinda see the shabby windows.


Nevertheless, the video tech students just keep winning statewide awards.


Last stop on the tour was the ceramics building. The outside is what my colorful grandma would have called "a disgrace to the hooty owls," whatever that means.


The inside looks better, but instructor Sal Perez said that when it rains the water comes running right through the building and out the front door. He pokes at the wall to show me the dry rot and said that there aren't enough sinks, especially when 30 students need to clean up at the same time. Also, he'd like more electrical outlets for electrically-powered pottery wheels.

Last picture. I took this shot because it made me feel bad, because I think it would be a lot easier for the Wildcats to be proud of their school with some better facilities.


So anyway, I'm now 100 percent in favor of the school bond. I hope you are, too.