Media Advisory--Morse High School Dedicates New Culinary Arts Facility

MEDIA ADVISORY-- May 25, 2012
Contact: Cynthia Reed-Porter 619-546-3378

Morse High's Hungry Tigers Dedicate New Culinary Facility and Host Open House

WHAT:  San Diego Unified School District is dedicating its new culinary arts facility at Morse High School. The College, Career & Technical Education facility (CCTE) is funded by Proposition S and a California Proposition 1D matching-fund grant. The school's Hungry Tiger culinary arts program provides students with a professional working environment while still in school.

WHEN:  Wednesday, May 30, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (rain or shine)

WHERE: Morse High School, 6905 Skyline Drive, SD 92114
School phone: 619-262-0763 School website: http://www.sandi.net/morse
Media parking will be available adjacent to facility (see attached map)

VISUALS: Presentation of colors by Morse High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, student-led Pledge of Allegiance, ribbon-cutting ceremony, student demonstrations, Morse Hungry Tiger culinary students catering the event, guests touring the facility, and guests dining on culinary treats.

GUEST SPEAKERS/INTERVIEWS: Morse High students, principal, Board of Education member, CCTE director, and executive director of the Prop. S program. (English and Spanish interviews)

BACKGROUND: This $3.2 million project involved constructing a new one-story, 6,622-square-foot, steel-framed building with an additional 1,695-square-foot outdoor cafe. Located on the southeast portion of the campus, the new facility features demonstration and instructional kitchens, indoor dining, a nutritional analysis classroom, two classrooms/preparation areas, teachers' offices, cold and dry storage, uniform closets, laundry, cleanup and trash areas, restrooms, and a loading dock.

On November 4, 2008, nearly 69 percent of the voters in San Diego passed the $2.1 billion general obligation bond measure, Proposition S, so that the school district could repair, renovate and revitalize the district's schools. These bond funds cannot be used to pay teacher or school administrator salaries.

Thanks to Proposition S, the school is receiving technology upgrades as part of the district's i21 Interactive Classroom Initiative. In addition, the stadium was completely rebuilt with a new press box, concession stand, restrooms, all-weather track, synthetic turf field and other amenities. Future Proposition S projects include a new two-story classroom building and a whole-site modernization project.

The local Proposition S funds are being used to match the state's Proposition 1D Career, Technical Education grant monies so that the district can provide new and/or renovated facilities to accommodate College, Career & Technical Education programs. At Morse High School, the new program facilities include auto body, culinary arts and child development.

The project partners for the new culinary facility were Zagrodnik + Thomas Architects and Cox Construction. Construction was completed in May 2012.

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Cynthia Reed-Porter, Communications Supervisor | Communications Office | San Diego Unified School District
Offices: (619) 725-5579 or (858) 637-3607 | Mobile: (619) 546-3378 | E-mail: creed-porter@sandi.net