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Rocking the Spectrum festival raised $18,000 for United High sensory room; trustees approve donation
Summary
The Rocking the Spectrum music festival, organized with Casa Carino and community partners on April 26, raised $18,000 in sponsorships for a sensory room at United High School; the board accepted multiple donations including the $18,000 contribution at Thursday’s meeting.
United ISD trustees on Thursday accepted a $18,000 donation from Casa Carino to fund a sensory room at United High School, the district announced during the meeting.
The funds were raised from sponsorships tied to the Rocking the Spectrum Music Festival held April 26 at Bartlett Park. Joe Baron of Casa Carino — the event’s organizer — told trustees the festival aimed to create a sensory space for United High, which the district staff said has the largest special-education population and currently lacks a dedicated sensory room.
Laura De Los Santos, United ISD executive director for special education, and other staff described the event as a community partnership that involved city and district volunteers, band performances from all four high schools, and 17 student volunteers. Staff reported the event drew about 250 adults and roughly 150 students across different hours and that sponsorships produced $18,000 to donate to the district’s special-education needs.
The board’s consent agenda recorded the donation: "a donation from Casa Carino in the amount of $18,000 to go towards the sensory room at United High School." Trustees approved the consent agenda items by voice vote.
Event organizers and staff said the festival cost the community no admission fee and relied on sponsors and volunteers; they described the festival as a model for future community partnerships and said they hope to hold an expanded event next year.
