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Arcadia Unified unveils five‑year strategic arts plan, eyes arts coordinator and Prop 28 funds
Summary
District staff presented VAPA 2.0, a five‑year strategic arts plan that aligns with LCAP goals and Prop 28 funding. The plan proposes an arts coordinator role, vertical articulation across sites and relaunching an Arts Council to distribute staffing and program supports equitably.
Arcadia Unified presented a second five‑year Strategic Arts Plan (VAPA 2.0) outlining goals to broaden and equalize visual and performing arts access districtwide. Superintendent and staff said the plan was built with teachers, the Arts Council executive committee and an ArtsEd Collective coach, and that Prop 28 funding and district match have provided instruments, technology and program resources over the last five years.
Jill Newman, the ArtsEd Collective coach who worked with the district team, summarized the process: "We began by sketching out a timeline and a process... Over the course of 5 meetings, we defined a practical vision." Presenters listed three early priorities: defining an arts coordinator position, using Prop 28 funding to grow highly qualified certificated VAPA staffing, and relaunching the Arts Council to support vertical articulation and program coordination across elementary, middle and high schools.
Board members sought specifics about schedule equity and staffing logistics for middle‑school programming; staff said the arts coordinator could initially be an existing VAPA educator taking on additional duties while the district defines the role and funding timeline. Staff emphasized that much Prop 28 funding is directed to staffing and personnel and that sites will determine allocations through local planning with district coordination.
The board thanked the VAPA team for sustained work across multiple years and noted alignment with facilities planning (Measure AS) to secure adequate arts spaces. No formal action was required for this information item.
