Construction to redo and beautify the interior courtyard at Paul Revere Charter Middle School is set to start next week. The estimated $250,000 project has been approved by the LAUSD, which hired a contractor to demolish the existing cracked and broken sidewalks and install a new drainage system. Completion is expected before school starts in September. A $10,000 grant from the Pacific Palisades Lions Club provided an important impetus for the project, and parents have contributed an additional $40,000. Award-winning architect and parent Eva Sobesky developed the design. Revere’s student council (which raises money through the student store) will help defray some of the cost of cement benches, tables and trash cans. Money raised will be used for additional circular benches, concrete gathering spaces and new landscaping. Additionally, the round tile mosaic in the center of the quad, donated by the class of 1968, is in need of repair. Project leaders hope to incorporate the three-foot mosaic into the new design. Currently, the quad is ‘a very compelling dirt pit,’ said parent Nancy Babcock. ‘It’s the heart of the school. We need to make it better.’ During normal winter months the area is a muddy mess. If additional money can be raised, the wish list from parents on the Capital Campaign Committee at Revere includes painting existing lockers and railings and power-washing existing sidewalks surrounding the quad. In lieu of money, the committee is also looking for donation of those services. ‘The most difficult aspect of being a principal at Revere is dealing with a 50-year-old facility,’ principal Fari Yashar said in an interview last fall. Since Revere is a charter school, parents often take a leadership role in school improvements. The library was completely overhauled and upgraded two years ago under the direction of parent Scott MacGillivray, and a challenging obstacle course next to the P.E. fields was dedicated in April. ‘The front office will get a facelift this summer,’ Babcock said. Fresh paint, new carpeting and new furniture will be paid for by PTSA, a parent organization. Additional wish-list items for the aging campus include installing a new running track, resurfacing the tennis courts and adding a sound system to the auditorium. ‘The updates will make this public school better and this in turn will benefit the entire community,’ said parent Ellen Pfahler, who is a member of the capital campaign team. She pointed out that AYSO, several club soccer teams, and lacrosse teams use the fields, and the auditorium is rented out by private groups for dance recitals and music concerts. Individual or corporate donations, including those from alumni or parents with younger children, are sought. Make tax-deductible checks out to PRIDE and mail them to PRIDE Capital Campaign at Paul Revere Middle School, 1450 Allenford Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90049. For more information, contact Nancy Babcock at natcoopeve@aol.com.
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