The James Logan Courier

By Alexa Rocero, Courier Staff Writer

As everyone can see, construction on the much anticipated visual and performing arts building has been slowly progressing, a traffic obstruction for a year now. According to Rhonda Neagle, Logan's Vice Principal of Operations, completion of the new building finally is approaching.

Before the center can be officially opened, one issue must be attended to: the name.
District officials have decided that such an distinctive building deserves a well thought-out name. The center should ideally be named in honor of some individual of great importance and influence to the community in some way or another, so the Board of Education proposed this solution: an essay contest of sorts.

Community members who have one in mind are encouraged to submit to the district the name of the individual they think the center should be named for, as well as a 400-word letter explaining their reasoning for this choice.

These can be either emailed to the Public Information Office (rlaplante@nhusd.k12.ca.us) or be mailed to Facility Names Committee, New Haven Unified School District, 34200 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, 94587. The deadline for any letters to be considered is October 23rd.

Regarding the construction, Neagle told The Courier, “The majority of the construction we can expect to be done around December. Then, a team will survey the building and create what’s called a punch list, which is a list of all the things that still need to be fine-tuned. Until the punch list is fixed, we cannot let students into the building”

The building will be used to serve, primarily, as a place for the band, drama, and choir groups to practice and perform. Replacing the Little Theater, the building will include a grand theater, classrooms, individual practice rooms, and even a recording studio. The theater is said to be able to seat approximately 600 people, about twice the size of the Little Theater. Below the front of the stage, there will be an orchestra pit, which will also be able to be raised as an addition to the front of the stage if needed.

The current Little Theater, however, will not go to waste. The school board is currently writing a request to the State for a grant to refurbish the Little Theater. The plan is to modernize the building, converting it into a new video production room.

Many people are very excited for the opening of the center. Senior Alyssa Pimentel says, “In choir we were told that we would be able to perform in it last year, but since that didn’t happen we’re hoping that we can at least have it to perform in for our Spring concert in May.”

Band student Bridget Panopio (10th) also expressed her high hopes for the building, “From far away, it almost looks like an Ikea! I like the design of how it looks different from the rest of the school, and we really could use the extra practice rooms for band.”

Even teachers cannot wait for it to finally be finished. Language Arts teacher Tim Campbell said, “I am so excited for the new visual and performing arts center! Mr. Hannigan and I bought a brick for one of the walls of the building that will read ‘World’s Greatest English Class 2008-09. I might even buy another brick if they are still on sale.”