2021 Grant Recipients
On October 21, 2021, the Burbank Arts & Education Foundation announced the funding of all submitted applications for the Fall 2021 Grant Cycle in the amount of $57,244.73. The list below includes all funded grants for 2021. You can click on each grant to learn more. All of this is made possible by our amazing donors, sponsors and invested community members. Be a part of the movement to maintain excellence across Burbank Unified School District. Join us today!
Edison Elementary School - Room 1 Diversity and Creativity Plan
Emerson Elementary School - Dance, Discover, Dream, Do: Emerson's Arts and Culture Initiative
Emerson Elementary School - Emerson Elementary Music Education for Every Child
Emerson Elementary School - TK Diversity and Equity Classroom Materials
George Washington Elementary School - STEAM in the Classroom
George Washington Elementary School - Updating a 5th Grade Classroom
Joaquin Miller Elementary School - Diversifying Guided Reading Book Sets
Joaquin Miller Elementary School - Building a Diverse Collection for Guided Reading
RL Stevenson Elementary School - Celebrating Diversity Through Literacy and Art
Roosevelt Elementary School - “50 Easy Ways to Reduce Waste” Poster
Thomas Edison Elementary School - Art Rotation for 3rd Grade
Thomas Edison Elementary School - Edison Fine Arts Wheel: Visual Arts Rotation
William McKinley Elementary - Auditorium Sound System Upgrade
Dolores Huerta Middle School - Library Learning Garden Mural & Signs
John Muir Middle School - Bringing Literature to the Classroom
John Muir Middle School - Egyptian Inspired Portraiture on Papyrus
John Burroughs High School - Stagecraft & Theater Tech CTE Teacher
1. Edison Elementary School
Room 1 Diversity and Creativity Plan
The goal is that every student that walks into Room 1 feels important, seen, and valued. This grant will allow students to have access to the materials and will be represented and seen. These items will help build a positive sense of self in each student. Students will be engaged with the materials on a daily basis as they rotate in different classroom centers, and during weekly art projects. A focal point of the TK year is social–emotional development. Students learn to identify and regulate emotions, establish and sustain their relationships with others, and work in collaboration to achieve goals. The impact of having these materials will be immediate and long-standing since the students will be able to see themselves represented throughout the classroom. Transitional kindergarten instruction places a premium on language development for all children. Because language is acquired largely through exposure to and purposeful use of language in a range of meaningful contexts, these materials will help establish a language-rich environment for students.
2. Edison Elementary School
Room 23 Curriculum Needs
These tools will allow students to use their eye-hand coordination to create and solve problems. Students can connect ideas and integrate their knowledge so that they can understand skill sets that are state standards and skill set that are lacking or need to be further explored. Students have really missed hands-on learning and touching objects to manipulate them into concepts that can be easily understood with objects. 3-D shapes and resources to help engage students in learning is more valuable. Students will be able to use these games, strategies and experiences in small groups, whole group instruction, spiral reviews as well as in tutorial sessions. The immediate impact will be that students coming back in person will have the opportunity for review and the opportunities to gain knowledge before transitioning to a new grade level. The long term impact will be that students will have the chance to practice skill sets, review items not understood and have physical material to use to learn from. The importance of students being able to actually hold oil pastels and create masterpieces or math manipulatives in their hands and work through strategies being taught will be huge for them.
3. Emerson Elementary School
Dance, Discover, Dream, Do: Emerson's Arts and Culture Initiative
The students at Emerson Elementary School will dance, discover, dream, do in the Spring of 2022! Through DANCE, the whole school will participate in the same workshops over three-week blocks of time. The students will be immersed in the music, movement, and art of the highlighted culture. Dancing allows the students the kinesthetic experience of learning about our world. The students will DISCOVER history and explore different cultures through dance. Dance facilitates the students' discovery and understanding of leading and collaborating. Through dance and discovery, young minds will expand and begin to DREAM of what is possible in our world. They may wonder how they can lead and how they can collaborate to make our world inclusive. They may be inspired to study other cultures because they have been exposed through dance. They may pursue careers or hobbies in dance or the arts. With supported class curriculum, Emerson students will set off a spark of wonder and curiosity. With teachers and staff supporting arts education, respect for differences and a deeper understanding of history and cultures that make up our world, gives students a background in DOing. This experience will raise the adults of tomorrow that will have tools to heal the world by actively participating in understanding and growing together. It gives our future leaders an experience, through the arts, of what it is like to learn, collaborate, and grow. Burbank Arts and Education Foundation is thrilled to support Emerson’s school-wide experience of the world through the art of dance; aligning with the California Arts Standards, enriching existing curriculum, and meeting BUSD DEI goals.
4. Emerson Elementary School
Music Education for Every Child
Provides essential funding for music education for TK-3rd grades in January for the Spring Semester. Currently, the District is only able to provide weekly general music instruction for 4th and 5th grades. Our primary goal now is to return to equitable access to a foundational music education for all students, TK through 5th. We will work with a music consultant to bridge the gaps in what the District is able to provide, and teach foundational skills through a sequential, standards-based general music instructional program. This project will be for one year, after which, the Emerson Fundraising committee will continue to prioritize supplemental music education funding for all grades.
5. Emerson Elementary School
TK Diversity and Equity Classroom Materials
Language Arts skills will be nurtured through stories that have main characters of color whose experiences match those of our students. Using gender neutral dress up clothing and costumes helps all students see themselves as productive members of our society. In general, students will feel recognized, accepted, and empowered to fully participate in their learning. The immediate impact will be student awareness and acceptance for the variety of classmates and families that they come in contact with daily. Long term impacts would include compassion and respect for those who don't look or live the same way we do. Through the new literature, toys, art supplies, and creative play materials the class can engage in active learning, discussion and free expression.
6. George Washington Elementary School
STEAM in the Classroom
This grant will provide extra materials for STEAM lessons in Ms. Kim's 4th grade class. These hands-on lessons, experiments, and art projects align with the NGSS and art standards, but they require extra materials not provided by the school. Through these lessons, the students learn how to try new things, tinker with ideas, and learn to collaborate with other students. Some of the materials are consumable and will be used this year. Other materials will be able to last for a few years and positively impact future classes.
7. George Washington Elementary School
Updating a 5th Grade Classroom Library
From 5th grade teacher, Ms. Diamond: "Over the span of my teaching career I have accumulated a vast collection of books for my classroom library. The majority of my classes have been in the 1st - 3rd grade range. This year, I am assigned to a 5th grade class with a group of students that have a remarkably high reading level. Some of my students are reading in the 9th -11th grade range! Needless to say, they are a truly special group of students. As if this weren't amazing enough, they also LOVE to read and devour books like crazy. In the first month of school, they've already read the majority of my classroom books at their level. I am requesting funds to update my classroom library. I would love to get my students' input in purchasing new books at their reading level and in literary genres that I know they would love to read. I also need to expand the diversity of my library with more multicultural offerings, especially from female authors and authors of color. Not only would this benefit my current group of students, but also my future groups of eager readers. I [will] use these funds immediately to place orders through Scholastic Book Club, consignment sales and "friends of the library" book sales."
8. Joaquin Miller Elementary School
Diversifying Guided Reading Book Sets
This grant will an addition of 13 new guided reading book sets that feature main characters of a different race, culture, family structure, and/or religion. Students will be able to see themselves (mirror) and others (window) in the books that they read during our small group reading lessons. They will see that kids from ALL backgrounds can be superheroes, have fun, and overcome challenges. The goal is that they will be empowered not only while reading these books but for years to come.
9. Joaquin Miller Elementary School
Building a Diverse Collection for Guided Reading
From 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Griffith: "I want to build my guided reading sets with diverse chapter books that include a variety of characters and backgrounds. I want my students to be able to not only see themselves in the stories but to learn about others in the world. Students and teachers will benefit from the rich conversation that will happen as a result of having a variety of chapter books. Immediate impact: for students to be able to recognize if the book is a mirror or a window story. Long-term impact: that their mindset is changed and they have a greater understanding of people and places around them."
10. RL Stevenson Elementary School
Celebrating Diversity Through Literacy and Art
From 3rd grade teacher Ms. Sheldon: "[These fuds will] help my students create works of art that teach about and explore various artists and cultures different from themselves and to celebrate and highlight these similarities and differences. To explicitly teach SEL and DEI through Arts education and integration. Our amazing interventionist at RL Stevenson Elementary, Anne Askerneese, put together a list of monthly themes of SEL topics and famous visual artists that correspond to that trait.
Monthly Themes 2021-22:
August, Belonging - Wassily Kandinsky;
September, Respectful - Diego Rivera
October, Friendly - Grant Wood
November, Helpful - Responsible - Dorthea Lange
December, Compassionate - Mary Cassatt
January, Self-Control - Edgar Degas
February, Resilient - Jacob Lawrence
March, Creative - Georgia O’Keefe
April, Perseverance - Claude Monet
May, Kindness - Katsushika Hokusai.
I want to tie the famous artists and their works of art together with the SEL theme and concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). My students will benefit from these funds by being immersed in art lessons that are integrated into our third grade curriculum, are culturally diverse, and celebrate the cultures of the major artists that come from diverse backgrounds. Civic and community changes start small and are built on over time. By starting my students off in third grade with opening their eyes to and introducing them to other people different from themselves and with different backgrounds, we can gently introduce the positives of cultural differences and similarities and build in acceptance and experiences through the introduction of diverse art and diverse artists. The books will have a lifetime lifespan and will last for years. The art supplies will also have a long-term, multi-year lifespan which will allow this project to continue on for several years."
11. Roosevelt Elementary School
"50 Easy Ways to Reduce Waste" Poster
The Burbank Eco Council and PTA Sustainability Committee members of Huerta MS and Roosevelt ES have created a poster featuring “50 Easy Ways to Reduce Waste at School” to be a more sustainable school district. The poster is 24” x 36” and would be placed into a frame. It shows how simple swaps can reduce waste, save money, and work towards better caring for our planet. Once the posters are printed and framed, they will be distributed to all the elementary, middle, and high schools for prominent display in common areas such as staff lounges, lunch shelters, recess areas, etc. The objective of this project is to place these eco posters in every school and administrative office throughout Burbank Unified School District to boost awareness and encourage small changes to create greater collective impact in slowing climate change. This is one small step towards getting BUSD to become a recognized Board of Education Green Ribbon School District, which is a goal of the Burbank Eco Council.
12. Roosevelt Elementary School
Playground Yoga
The school administration will partner with Emily Phillips Yoga to bring yoga and mindfulness instruction to Roosevelt. Twice each week, students are invited to participate in yoga during recess under the guidance of a licensed yoga instructor and certificated teacher. Yoga helps children manage their anxiety, improve emotional regulation, boosts self-esteem and confidence, increases body awareness and mind-body connection, enhances children’s concentration, memory, and focus, develops children’s strength and flexibility, improves academic focus and classroom behavior. The Playground Yoga Program is already being implemented via PTA donations that will fund the program through Dec 6, 2021, and this grant allows the program to continue through the remainder of the school year.
13. Roosevelt Elementary School
Rising In 4th Grade
This grant will fund copies of the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, along with materials for related activites. Students will read the book, make yarn dolls associated with the content, and create an art mural of the book cover. It meets the CCSS-ELA Literacy RL 4.7 standard and will take place during the 2022 Spring Semester.
14. Thomas Edison Elementary School
3rd Grade Art Rotation
This grant will provide materials for a formalized Art program at Edison that will occur 1 time a week for all four 3rd grade classrooms. Students will have the ability to organize, study, develop and create art of different materials and concepts. Weekly and monthly lessons will cover a variety of techinques and artists.
15. Thomas Edison Elementary School
Edison Fine Arts Wheel:
Visual Arts Rotation
From Edison Arts Wheel chair, Brenda Etterbeek: "Art For the Sky is a magical, boundary dissolving, outdoor, ecological, team-building experience for all grade levels with teachings that last a lifetime. The adventure culminates in a gigantic living painting colored and shaped by the living forms of participants. The entire school will benefit from the use of these funds. Every student will participate in a school-wide assembly which covers: a) our relationship with the sky; b) the remarkable history and ancient roots of this art form; c) the Six Teachings; d) information about the logistics of the project. The presentation ends with the learning of the Art For the Sky theme song, Wings to Fly, with lyrics that contain many of the teachings of Art For the Sky. After the assembly, the teaching artist works with 4 selected students for 45 minutes in laying out the image grid on the field. After the outline of the design has been sketched on the field, shifts of students in two groups of 8 come out and help spread the mulch which is being used in the design. Six 5-gallon buckets and a leaf rake are generally all the needed implements for this work. Event Day is Day 2. In the morning, a pre-selected small group helps tweak the details of the design. Daniel, the teaching artist, meets with the Sky Captains 30 minutes before the event to go over their responsibilities in helping to organize the students. As the hour-long event begins, participants, wearing their colored shirts, come together class by class as "color dots" on the image charging it with life and beauty. Daniel photographs, films and directs the project with a megaphone from a tall (donated) crane, firetruck Two or three on the ground volunteer-photographers take digital pictures for potential inclusion in the film project film. On the morning of Day 3, the musical project video Daniel has put together is shared during a morning assembly. The live art image is revealed. The project will take place January 19-21 as part of the visual arts rotation of the Edison Fine Arts Wheel. This project will occur during the class day for the first two days. The outdoor live art reveal will be done in the morning on Friday, January 21st."
16. William McKinley Elementary School
Auditorium Sound System Upgrade
The McKinley Auditorium is a vital gathering place for the school community, and the broken and outdated equipment desparetly needs upgrading. This grant will provide for a new sound board, microphones, speakers and other necessary tools. Sound amplification allows the students to be able to hear teachers, administrators and presenters during assemblies and events. It will significantly improve the student experience during the school musicals and holiday performances, familiarizing them with high-level equipment that they will see later on in middle and high school. The equipment wil last for many years and will continue to benefit the school community at large for a long time.
17. BUSD
Assistive Technology & Universal Access
From TOSA - Assistive Technology Specialist, Eric Carter: "I am looking at ways of embedding assistive technology tools for universal access for our special education students. There are two products produced by Don Johnston, Inc. that are used by districts all over the United States called Snap & Read and Co: Writer. These are Google apps/extensions that support students with numerous functions including writing and reading support. [This grant will fund] licenses for these programs. Our middle school special education students will be provided with a license for each program as needed and determined by their case manager. I am also planning three professional development trainings for the 16 case managers. These programs will assist students with their writing as well as reading comprehension. Teachers will also be provided the necessary and ongoing training, support, and communication needed to insure implementation."
18. Dolores Huerta Middle School
Learn to Code with Robots
From 6th grade teacher, Mr. Mitchell; "Learn to Code with Robots will be a 2 week unit for my 6th grade computer wheel classes. Students will work with a partner to create computer programs using Lego Classroom App to control their robot. Challenges will include making the robot drive in certain shapes (circle, square, plus sign), interact with sensors (drive forward until touch wall, stop when object is close) and object retrieval (go until close to object, grab object, return to designated area). Students will learn about physical computing, basic coding principles (loops, if-then statements, Boolean logic, variables) using the Lego Classroom App which is based on scratch. They can use these same principles on the scratch website to create games and interactive animations. They will also be exposed to the world of robotics. We use Lego Robotics systems in my Exploring Engineering classes and students enjoy working with them and learn a lot. Acquiring more systems will allow us to use them in the 6th grade computer wheel classes. Women and many minority groups are underrepresented in Computer Science and STEM careers. Providing access to coding and robotics in 6th grade can help that. It is also a great way to get all students interested in these fields for high school, college, and career. I have already started designing the curriculum. Once we have funding, we can order the robotics kits and be ready to include the unit for 6th grade wheel classes starting Jan 2022 (second semester). This would allow 4 classes to do the Learn to Code with Robots this school year. LEGO Mindstorms Education site has lesson plans and curriculum available for teachers. Additional resources are available from FIRST, which sponsors Lego Robotics competitions at various grade levels. Since the robot kits I am requesting have a similar coding interface to what we currently are using, I already know what I need in order to implement the program."
19. Dolores Huerta Middle School
Library Learning Garden Mural & Sign
The Dolores Huerta Middle School Library Learning Garden is an outdoor area within the school walls, about 25’ x 15’, and is located directly outside of the school library. There are several components to this space: Two large planters flanking the entrance gate to Oak Street, a rain barrel, and the wall space facing the library entrance. The first component, the planters, are filled with native plants, pollinator-attracting plants and drought tolerant succulent plants. These were donated by the community and installed by members of the PTSA Sustainability Committee. The second component, the rain barrel, was donated and installed by parents. The final components of this project are a large-scale mural on the wall, and the addition of 5 interpretive signs, which this grant would fund. The muralist that has been selected by our group is Alisha Sofia. The concept sketch (included here) for the mural art is a girl (representing Dolores Huerta) reading and enjoying time in the garden, gaining insight and inspiration. It represents the convergence of reading and idealism, knowledge and power. It illustrates the ‘seeds’ of Dolores Huerta’s dedication to learning and activism to protect farm workers in California, and honors her place in history. Ms. Sofia is an accomplished artist with past works in Venice, Santa Monica and DTLA. The interpretive signs will showcase graphics to support science lessons and highlight examples of the ecosystem within the garden. The objective of this project is to create a space for in-person observation of concepts being taught in Science classes, provide a source for visual arts support, for creative inspiration, and an easily accessed environment to foster student wellness through interaction with nature.
20. John Muir Middle School
Instrumental Music Coach
From Director of Instrumental Music, Mr. Lawrence: "Two days a week, we hire Miss Laura Lyman to assist with our string and wind ensemble classes. Miss Lyman is a master musician and teacher who has performed throughout the nation as a soloist, guest artist and orchestra member of several major Symphonies including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, The Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tucson Symphony, and The Arizona Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, Miss Lyman has a wonderful rapport with our students here at Muir. Laura is a specialist on all woodwind instruments, as well as violin and viola pedagogy. As I have an extensive background in brass, percussion, and low strings pedagogy, having Laura as an assistant teacher allows us to offer professional level small group instruction to every student in the Instrumental Music Program two days per week. Individualized instruction is crucial to beginning instrumental music students. Students who receive more individualized instruction on their instrument are able to make progress on their instruments much quicker than students who do not receive individualized instructions. As Miss Lyman and I can divide all string orchestra and wind ensemble courses two days per weeks, students will receive more opportunities to work on fundamentals with proper guidance. These funds will provide myself and Miss Lyman weekly opportunities to assess how our individual students are doing, and what aspects of their musicianship need assistance. This will help all of our students experience more success on their instruments. In result, the entire band and orchestra program will have more musical success, as the students will feel confident about their playing, both individually, and as a whole."
21. John Muir Middle School
Bringing Literature into the Classroom
From teacher, Ms. Wertlieb: "I maintain a classroom library where students can check out books. I want to purchase diverse, current, and student-selected books for immediate and ongoing student use. Students will have a thoughtfully curated, diverse, up-to-date library at their disposal every day in their English classroom. (Just today, 15 students checked out books to read for pleasure and for our class!) Students will be offered a wide array of literature to choose from. They are encouraged to read for pleasure and to develop reading skills. Eventually, this independent reading turns into book discussions and activities that help foster the love of reading. Since it is located in my classroom, I am there to help guide students in real-time who are looking for something to read. The goal is to give students every chance and opportunity to find something they love to read, to give them "windows and mirrors" to others and themselves, and connect with each other through that literature. The funds will be used immediately to purchase and add books to the classroom library and to fill in gaps in genre selection. Books will be purchased through Amazon and any other websites that offer a wide selection of Middle School literature. Books will be well cared for and our librarian has helped repair damaged books for us in the past. They usually last several years."
22. John Muir Middle School
Clay Tablets and Cuneiform
This grant will provide 200 pounds of red clay, a roller, and a set of silicon mats so 6th grade students can create their very own tablet inscribed with a message. The students will learn about ancient pottery practices, the work of scribes, and the significance of cuneiform, which is one of the world’s first writing systems.
23. John Muir Middle School
Egyptian Inspired Portraiture on Papyrus
From 6th grade teacher, Ms. Cherkezian: "In this project, students create Egyptian inspired portraits using a mixed media technique on papyrus. Students learn about the lives of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, Egyptian art, and create a 2-dimensional portrait and cartouche using a Hieroglyphic Alphabet to translate their names. [This grant integrates arts and history, as well as supports students social and emotional learning, creativity, and appreciation of arts education.]"
24. John Muir Middle School
Gutenberg Press
From 7th grade teahcer, Mr. Swartz: "A few years back, I purchased and restored and old Kelsey Excelsior printing press to be used in my class and support student learning of the Renaissance. I have purchased two additional printing presses to allow more students the ability to set type and print. Now that students are not limited to one, additional type and printing resources are needed. Students will better understand the significance of the printing press and how it was able to spread information and ideas throughout the world. It was key in helping create a literate public and is considered one of the greatest inventions of all time. The goal is to not only have students be able to explain how books and ideas were communicated before the invention of the printing press, but also be able to describe how a movable type press works, how it changed the world, and how information was distributed and shared. Students will also be able to discuss how the printing press has impacted society, education, print media, and our current digital age and how easily information can be shared today."
25. John Muir Middle School
Mosaic Beach Scene
From Art teacher, Ms. Asmussen: "[This grant will provide materials to] create a beautiful beach scene (with a forest) using a mosaic system to enhance the visual appearance of the girls locker room. We will create the design in the art classroom. Once a week during class, we will devote time to creating the individual sections of the mosaic. Each of my five classes will have a section to work on as a group. The students involved in making the mosaic will learn how to create a work of art as a group. The immediate impact will be the feeling of accomplishment that creating a work of art as a group helped produce within each student artist. The long-term impact will be the ability to see the work of art at school for years to come."
26. Burbank High School
BHS Instrumental Music Coaching Program
The instrumental music coaching program provides instrument specific music instruction to students by professional musicians who specialize in the same instrument as the student/section. The program is important because it will enrich the music education program offered at Burbank High School by providing instruction that is beneficial to all students in the program, including those with disabilities and special needs. The desired program outcomes include instruction beneficial to students of all abilities and needs, increased musicianship of the students, and exposure to potential career path in the arts. The project will increase the student’s achievement by providing them access to learn directly from professional artists who play the same instrument as they do on a professional level. The program will be administered during music curricular courses Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band. Having professionals in the classroom is going to help the band director be a better teacher by providing guidance specialized to each instrument within the program. Performing—Anchor Standard 5: Develop and Refine Artistic Techniques and Work for Presentation anywhere from intermediate to advance. The program will begin September 2021 and conclude in May 2022.The immediate impact is higher student engagement and participation, and a stronger grasp of the technical music skills that apply, excellent musical performance and grades.
27. Burbank High School
BHS STEAM Lab Sound Control
From BUSD NAF Director, Alyson Edge: "Currently, the STEAM lab at BHS is in the former auto shop which is concrete on all sides making the echo and acoustics not conducive to teaching and listening. [These funds will allow us] to incorporate soundproofing techniques to turn the STEAM lab into a usable space for serious thought, collaboration, and concentration. It is currently being used as an engineering and physics classroom, but it is also visited by our stage tech and anatomy and physiology classes. Our timeline depends on grant approval and final purchase. Students and teachers alike [will] be able to better hear each other and communicate better. Students would be able to focus better and they collaborate and concentrate better while they are problem solving."
28. John Burroughs High School
30 Gingerbread Houses
From JBHS Culinary Arts Science Instructor, Ms. Macias: "[This grant will fund] the purchase of supplies and ingredients to make the houses as well as the decorations used by students to be creative in producing their own unique house. This is the favorite project students do each year, and has become a known tradition amongst JBHS students. Given our current budget, we are not in a fiscal position to purchase the amount of supplies and decorations that we usually would. This grant would provide more equity between students and classes for those who cannot afford to bring in specialized decorations for their houses."
29. John Burroughs High School
Marine and Freshwater Habitat
From Biology teacher, Ms. De La Torre: "The needs for this project include the accessories to set up successful freshwater and saltwater aquariums. The students will benefit with an interactive experience designing, researching, and exploring all the necessary properties for an aquatic environmentfor species to thrive. Other Biology teachers on campus will benefit from the varying plants and organisms in the habitats to explore the phenomenon of photosynthesis and cycling with their students. The immediate impact of the project is for students to comprehend the importance of nutrient cycling in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Topics such as photosynthesis, nitrogen cycle, and energy flow will be covered. The aquariums will be continually tested for water quality and organism health throughout the year. Students will produce and present a project-based assessment at the end of the year."
30. John Burroughs High School
Stagecraft-Theater Tech CTE Teacher
From Stagecraft-Theater Tech CTE Teacher, Ms. Villareal: "After two years of distance learning and budget cuts that included CTE Stagecraft, I am rebuilding the JBHS program. We have equipment needs that include replacing and repairing equipment for sound and lighting. Upon investigating how to repair some mic packs I learned parts were unavailable because of legislation that requires only emergency services (and some large telecommunications companies) have access to the frequency level. This prevents me from repairing the equipment. This also creates a domino effect: changing the mic pairs requires a change to packs and receivers that are compatible. Additionally we have broken light fixtures that need replacing. I am working with the JBHS performing arts department, BUSD CTE, and my site administrators to develop a comprehensive and prioritized plan for ensuring the auditorium equipment is compliant with current legislation, safe, and prepares students for current industry workforce needs. Students have already learned that there are surprising factors that come into play when working in a theatre environment! I had never heard about the frequency legislation and might not have ever known if we had not attempted to locate parts to repair the equipment. We have secured funding support from BUSD CTE, JBHS VMA, JBHS Drama, and school site sources. The equipment does not require any installation beyond replacing what parts are already in place so no facilities upgrades or services are required. Once we receive equipment it will be used immediately."