The prospect of an auditorium for Arcadia brightened some-what with the Federal government's decision to pump $2.9 billion for an individual project such as an auditorium. California is entitled to $285 million and Arcadia may seek up to $4.9 million for an individual project such as an auditorium. Council members, normally opposed to such funds, seemed very excited over the prospects.
City officials, residents, and School Board members gathered to formulate plans to try once again to get a civic auditorium. In 1965 and 1971 efforts toward this goal fell short.
Meetings have been held recently to study the feasibility of a new effort to get the community behind an auditorium. Representatives at these meetings have been members of the School Board, activists for the city, and ex-mayor Alton Scott.
The Board of H.O.Y. has decided to close the Temple City branch counseling offices July 1, 1977 due to a lack of funds. The Temple City Council failed to appropriate the $5000 needed to deep the facility open.
Arcadia High School held a drive and collected $800 toward a municipal auditorium. A non-profit corporation is being established and it will be the nucleus for an auditorium drive to begin in September 1977.
A non-profit foundation to work with the citizens of Arcadia in an attempt to construct on auditorium is now complete and in operation. Gives details of how the money will be used in case an auditorium drive is not successful.
The City Council on December 16 by a 3-2 vote decided not to apply for federal funds under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, even though the Council-appointed committee recommended that it apply.
The State-administered Federal program which helped supplement reading and math skills for those youngsters with the lowest performances was rejected by a 3-2 vote of the School Board. Voting against were Board members May, Horstman and Clifford; voting for were Fickas and Harvey.
The committee assigned to make a feasibility study reports the possibility of Arcadia building an auditorium looks bleak and is getting bleaker. Efforts will continue to get major donations started via a grass roots drive and put these aside for a future project.
Next Tuesday Arcadians will vote on two proposals: 1--Arcadia Elementary School Board seeks approval of $600,000 bond issue. 2--Tax increase to meet Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School district needs.
In a letter to the Tribune, Chairman Charles Gilb says that the auditorium project is ready to move forward. A non-profit corporation has been set up and this will make donations tax-deductible. Committees will soon be formed. People may contact the committee by writing: Arcadia Auditorium Committee P. O. Box 60 Arcadia, California 91006
Charles Gilb is the chairman of a new Auditorium Committee and asks anyone in the community with any ideas to attend any of a week of informal hearings being held to determine community support.
By a 3-2 vote, the School Board authorized the Superintendent of Schools to sign an assurance of compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974. This assures non-discrimination against the handicapped.
A fundraiser will be held on March 4 at the Arcadia High School track beginning at 9:00 A.M. It is billed as a Jog-A-Walk-A-Torium. Entrants will get sponsors to pledge money on the basis of laps completed. Widest participation is hoped for.
Since October 1975 a committee of citizens, teachers and
administrators have been studying requirements for graduation from high school. They recommend raising the units needed to graduate from 160 to 170. The School Board will vote on this proposal on April 14.
In a surprise move, the School Board voted to accept Federal funds under Title I. The monies will go to Bonita Park Elementary School to reinforce the education of culturally deprived children in reading and math.
The Arcadia School Improvement Program, successor to the Early Childhood Education Program, was dropped by the Arcadia School Board by a vote of 3-1, with one abstention.