New principal, construction at M-A High

It's great to see we are finally building two-story school buildings in Menlo Park with M-A and the new upper Laurel building in the Willows. It's odd that it seems to be controversial!

Two-story homes are commonplace now because of the high price of buildable land, so why not two-story school buildings? There's only so many decades of talking about overcrowding you can do before you have to take steps to address the problem.

To Parent's point, what a huge waste of space the atrocious performing arts center is. Invest in buildings that actually address real educational needs vs multi-million dollar buildings that benefit but a few students.

@Gus,
I don't know where you grew up, but in many other parts of the the US, a large auditorium with raked seating is standard issue for high schools and middle schools. The auditoriums are used for instructional purposes well beyond just performances and rehersals, like whole school or at least partial school assemblies, parent education, etc. I was appalled when I moved to Menlo Park and starting attending events in the poorly designed, hard to use multi's that each school used for large events. The PACs at Hillview and MA have been a godsend vs. previous large group spaces. I guess you don't remember how painful it was to use the J Building, and how dilapidated the Burgess Theater, that the PAC replaced, were.

Stats - what are the stats on usage of this facility?

How often and by whom?

Mr. Carpenter: were you one of the "anti's"?

"Mr. Carpenter: were you one of the "anti's"?"

No. I prefer facts before I take a personal position.

@Peter,
Are you just looking for info on the theater or also on the classroom/cafe, bandroom, and practice rooms which are in continuous use throughout the school year. I know the theater handles at least 50 school events per year, of which 10 or so are multi-day due to rehearsals, with some running as long as 1 1/2 weeks (drama productions). The city of Menlo Park also has rights to 55 days per years, for their 2.4M$ to the construction costs in replacement for the city-owned Burgess Theater, but I know the city is till challenged to fill their full allotment.

Mr. Carpenter: were you one of the "anti's"?

Were you for or against the PAC before it was built, when the Lindenwood crowd were howling about traffic, gangs and teenage miscreants, etc..?

"Were you for or against the PAC before it was built, when the Lindenwood crowd were howling about traffic, gangs and teenage miscreants, etc..?"

I questioned the promised levels of use - which have not been met- and I questioned the the traffic arrangements - which have proven inadequate.

I do not believe that asking such questions qualifies me as an anti anything but rather as a responsible taxpayer. And yes my tax dollars support this facility.

[Post removed. Please stay on topic.]

The attacks on Mr Carpenter are so disappointing. This is a forum for discussion. Can't we have differing views on a subject without vilifying one another? I happen to believe that the SUHSD and the city of Menlo Park wasted a tremendous amount of taxpayer money on an over-the-top facility that could have been built for millions less. I also hold the opinion that it's butt ugly, and we paid extra to get it that way. So please agree or disagree. Speak your piece on the issue. But don't attack others because you don't happen to agree with them.

anti- ants first ask me about my position oh the PAC; I responded.
Anti-ants then goes back 5 years to a different issues and extracts words to create a false impression of my position.

As Gus suggests let's stick to the issue here. If ant-ants wants to discuss with me let's have lunch - but no ants please.

The thread is about MA, it's new leader and new classroom construction. I think it's great stuff!

[Portion deleted; stick to the topic.]

[Portion removed; stick to the topic.]

I stand firmly behind all of my comments in their entirety.
****************

Now back on topic.
How is M-A going to deal with the additional traffic created by the enlarged campus footprint?
Will they reimpose no-car restrictions on students living nearby?
Will they pay for a four way traffic signal at Middlefield and the East end of Ravenswood to allow use of the constructed but always kept closed entrance onto Ravenswood and Middlefield.?

[Potion removed; stick to the topic.]

MAHS will deal with it the same way every local high school is dealing with the current boom. The NIMBYs and haters will go on NIMBYing and hating.

If you don't like living in a dense area, move somewhere else.

The school was here first.

"I write very clearly and say what I mean to say, period."

Just had a couple of M-A Junior football players stop by with a game schedule. My wife and I took the time to query them about how the school is doing. They were both from Belle Haven. I am pleased to report that their school experience was great and the school is much more completely integrated than when our son attended in the 90's. They were articulate, proud gentleman with sound career plans and they prioritized school work over their sports.

Well done gentlemen and M-A !!

"If you don't like living in a dense area, move somewhere else.

The school was here first."

One wonders if you're one of those bitching about Surfair.

Not I, good sir.

Folks all over the Peninsula have it worse. MUCH worse.

But we should get back on topic, lest we offend others.

Awww... what the... I also know some MA Juniors. A great school. Also a revamped football program, with much emphasis on life lessons.

"But we should get back on topic, lest we offend others."

Then why dredge up stuff from years ago?

It's good that not many M-A students will read this thread. The logic of moving from M-A buildings to Surf Air is an example of convoluted thought process at best.

Dear Moderators - I have asked use directly without a reply so now I will ask you here: Why is another poster allowed to inaccurately quote me and my response is removed but her inaccurate quotes are allowed to remain?

Exactly what is "thoughtful" about that dichotomy?