The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School, Sun Valley, CA 91352 Vol. XCVII, No. 9 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 May 2012 Auditorium If You Build It will reopen $2.2M upgrade They Will Cross includes better to be closed for three days to deliver By Jessica Flores the bridge, set up the crane and sound, brighter Staff Writer install the bridge. lights, new curtains. Once the bridge is in place, addi- A $3M structural steel and cast- tional welding and other metal work in-place concrete pedestrian bridge is expected to take two weeks. By Gabriela Melendez will deliver Poly ninth grade stu- Staff Writer The elevator, manufactured by dents safely and securely over Arleta Mitsubishi Elevator Company, has Street to their new $34M home at a capacity of 3,500 lbs and interior $2.2M renovation of the Valley Region Middle School #3 clear dimensions of 4’3” by 6’8.” Poly’s auditorium is (VRMS#3). The elevator is for disabled students nearing completion. The bridge will span from just The upgraded facility north of the south exit from Byrd to A [ See Bridge, pg 6 ] is scheduled to reopen with the just south of the new parking lot at drama department’s production of Poly. “Rent, the musical” on May 10. Photo Courtesy of LAUSD State approval for the bridge is Funding for the renovation was ARLETA BRIDGE: Poly frosh will travel in comfort on this $3M bridge. expected by the end of next week, provided Proposition 1D money and with a planned completion date Poly Staff a Career Technical Education (CTE) of early November, according to grant. VRMS#3 Owner Authorized Repre- “The upgrades will provide sentative (OAR) Dan Holmquist. Gets RIFs students with hands-on training Poly Goes Prep The school, located north of Byrd using professional grade equipment Middle School and next to the 170 By Cesar Quiñones to develop the career skills and Freeway, is slated for a fall 2012 Staff Writer knowledge necessary to compete in BOE mandates LAUSD students opening. various highly-demanding technical Architect Thomas R Moore of the field,” said assistant principal Pia meet UC entrance requirements. IBI Group designed the bridge and Ten Poly teachers received Damonte. Clark Construction is the primary Reduction in Force (RIF) notices in ext year’s Poly freshmen will have to The upgraded auditorium’s By Yenifer Rodriguez contactor for both the bridge and the March, part of a larger LAUSD staff pass a much more rigorous curriculum new features include additional Staff Writer school. reduction that totals approximately to graduate, thanks to a 2005 decision spotlights and floodlights on the The bridge is nine feet high, 10 9,500. About 800 of those RIFs are by the Los Angeles Board of Educa- wall, stage and ceiling, including N feet wide (approx. 9-feet clear width teachers whose positions were lost to tion. two “intelligent lights” with special walking surface) and 107 feet long, declining enrollment. Beginning next school year, all LAUSD high school students must take a effects capability. with an additional 39 feet as the “The RIFs put teachers in series of college-prep classes, including Algebra 2, commonly known as the The building’s electrical bridge passes over onto the Byrd MS stressful situations,” said Poly A – G requirements, to graduate. system was upgraded to handle the property adjacent to the elevator. The Principal Ari Bennett. “To be a productive citizen in the 21st century, there is an expectation a additional equipment demands. public right-of-way clearance over “The RIFs are an intimidating person will be able to communicate and problem solve at a high level,” said A professional level audio Arleta is 17 feet. technique used to make teachers Poly Principal Ari Bennett. “These are the skills embedded in ‘college prep’ system, a high definition projector Maya Steel will fabricate the afraid,” said Poly UTLA classes.” and backstage scaffolding will bridge in their shop in Los Angeles. representative Bob Scott. “Twenty- Only 15% of LAUSD’s 2011 graduating class met the A – G requirements enhance stage productions. The bridge will then be deliv- five percent of teachers were RIFd necessary for admission to the University of California and California State New stage curtains were also ered by truck to the site and put in this year. It would be impossible to University systems. added. place with a large crane. A dozen run a school district while cutting Two-thirds of Poly’s 2010 graduates completed the UC/CSU require- Two exterior wheelchair ramps iron workers and welders and five one quarter of teachers.” ments.. on either side of the auditorium will additional staff for coordination and “We see all of the staff as an The Board also proposed decreasing the credits needed for graduation allow easier access. traffic control will assist on the day extended family,” said Scott. “It’s from 230 to 170, or 25% fewer credits. Two other facilities on campus of erection. frustrating as a Chapter Chair to feel “My understanding is the final plan is likely to be more in the 190 credit were upgraded as part of the grant. Clark Construction representative so impotent when people you care A pug mill, which recycles S. Ali Jamali expects Arleta Street about are faced with the loss of their clay, pottery wheels and an [ See A - G Requirements, pg 6 ] livelihood.” upgraded electrical system were “What I hear from the District installed in.ceramics teacher Karen is there’s optimism that after Daneshvari’s room. bargaining with the unions, they will A printer with a digital printer “RENT” will open auditoruim discontinue the RIFs,” Bennett said. server and a thermal transfer printer Over the past five years, used for mass production and Play Production’s Broadway rock opera features big enrollment has decreased by 89,000 oversized printings were added to the students. Last year 749 teaching Parrot Connection room supervised production numbers and controversial characters. positions were lost to declining by Michelle Alias. enrollment. Earlier this year, the exterior “The show’s themes are about fighting for one’s life, “I was RIFd last year two times,” By Gabriela Melendez said Poly 9th grade English teacher mural on the Roscoe Street side of Staff Writer for one’s love, for one’s passion, artistic passion, person- the auditorium was refreshed as part al passion, and emotional relationships,” said Groskin. Dennis Madrigal. “My wife and I of the renovation. The show has 23 songs, 19 cast members, including both got RIFd last year.” Poly’s drama students will stage a production of Facilities representative Sergio seven leads and two doubles, and a stage crew of nine. Madrigal is a seven-year veteran “Rent,” Jonathan Larson’s Tony-award winning rock Alvarado is currently training English teacher Lisa Blackwell assisted with the vocal at Poly. opera about a group of friends living in New York’s East drama coach Katy Groskin, KYDS performances. Scott expects most of the RIFs to Village who struggle with STDs, poverty and love. The associate Glen Philips and four The musical edgy topic matter presented some early be rescinded. production, under the direction of Katy Groskin and students on operating the new considerations. Most RIF letters get mailed by KYDS’ Glen Phillips, will mark the opening of the newly equipment. “Some of the performers who would have been July 1 and are effective in mid- renovated auditorium. The Owner Authorized involved couldn’t be because of the racy nature of the August, according to LAUSD Performances will run May 10-12 at 7 pm, with one Representative (OAR) for the plot,” said Groskin. “It deals with homosexuality and officials. act previews during the school day on Thursday and renovation was Lubna Kidess. Final layoff notices are usually Friday. sent by May 15, but may extend into [ See RENT, pg 6 ] June this year. Just Passin’ Through: Smart pop, sweet Woody Guthrie in LA vocals, hit single “This Land is Your Land” composer “Somebody I Used to Know” had a radio show on KFVD. from Gotye and Kimbra. Google Image MUSIC - page 5 Google Photos MEDIA - page 7 2 May 2012 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp OPINION EDITORIAL the OPTIMIST VOL XCVII No. 9 Prom Bash mAY As June approaches, many Poly fems start to worry about on those four inch stilettos. They should be called killer heels prom more than ever. I would expect it to start now, but I have because they can be used as a weapon. Two, three hundred been hearing about prom since February. There’s no big deal dollars wasted away on uncomfortable, posture changing shoes. A SCIENTIFIC METHOD about it, really. You spend $100 on the ticket, $100+ on attire, What a waste of money. 3 Magnet senior Raphael Rubio will and $100+ on transportation. Talk about an overpriced dance/ 1. Dresses may not be cut below the bust line. 2. Dresses major in Chem and Poli Sci at Columbia. dinner. may be backless as long as they are not cut below the naval. 3. By Alex Kang In our age where tighter is better and showing skin is as Midriffs will not be exposed. 4. Dressed may not have a slit that common as wearing clothes, this night is the worst of all lewd exceeds mid-thigh, This is fingertip length. attire. Who in their right mind would spend hundreds of dollars I can only imagine how many clones there will be on Prom VISITING THE VILLA on a dress you’d only wear ONCE? It’s daft.