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Board moves forward on Emma Wicker auditorium renovation; district to fund majority, staff ask community for donations
Summary
Trustees were told the Emma Wicker Auditorium renovation has final DSA approval, contractor bids closed and work is expected to start mid-November; district staff said Measure C and district funds will cover most costs and proposed donor opportunities including a donor wall and named seating.
The East Whittier City School District presented updated plans for the Emma Wicker Auditorium renovation and reported that Division of the State Architect (DSA) approval was received over the summer. Staff said contractor bids have closed and they hope to bring a construction contract to the board at the next meeting, with work targeted to begin in mid-November.
District staff described the renovation estimate in the $8.1 million range and said, after outreach to city, county and state officials, they have not secured external grant funding; as a result staff said the project will largely be district-funded. To offset costs, staff proposed community fundraising options such as a donor wall, name plates on new seats, and the sale of a limited number of vintage auditorium seat groupings for donors.
Why it matters: the auditorium serves district events and community performances. Staff said they will continue to pursue matching funds but must plan on a predominantly district-funded approach while offering naming and donor opportunities to reduce the net cost.
Details and community asks: staff showed sample donor-wall concepts, discussed ADA and DSA constraints that limit some proposed fundraising products (for example, seat-by-seat naming is complicated by the chair construction), and suggested several donor levels to broaden community participation. The district also plans to preserve and offer some original chair groupings to donors and to place a donor wall in the renovated lobby.
Next steps: staff expect to return with a construction contract at the next meeting and to begin community outreach to solicit donations. No formal vote on contractor award was taken at this meeting.
