Graphic Arts Academy Set for Pasadena High

The Pasadena Unified School District and local graphic arts firms are set to begin an apprenticeship program to teach graphic arts skills to high school students.

The agreement, which is expected to be approved formally by the school board Tuesday, calls for establishing a Graphic Arts Academy at Pasadena High School in September, 1991, said John Porter, director of the district’s secondary instruction.

The academy will operate as a specialized school within the high school, offering classes in typesetting, design, photography and printing as well as teaching math, English and history by incorporating graphic arts concepts, Porter said.

Pasadena Unified has already approved one educational partnership with local business. This fall, the district is launching a Health Careers Academy at Blair High School, where students will take health science and administration classes on campus, then work at Kaiser Permanente and Huntington Memorial Hospital to gain experience.

District officials say they expect to spend the coming year laying the groundwork for the graphic arts academy with the Printing Industry Assn. of Southern California. The association, which has 2,000 members, has donated $67,000 toward administrative costs to establish a graphic arts curriculum.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Susan Kinney, a co-owner of Castle Press in Pasadena and former association president. “It’s the first time I feel we can really put our money into the schools and get something back.”

Kinney says the academy hopes eventually to serve 120 students, beginning their sophomore year. They will work unpaid summer internships the first year, advancing to paid ones as they develop job skills.

Each student will also be assigned a mentor from the business community who is expected to work closely with the student and monitor his or her progress. Students will also be encouraged to take printing classes at Pasadena City College.