Pacoima : Deadline Extended for Stolen Yearbook Text

Fortunately, the publisher cut them some slack.

With the publishing deadline April 1, the centennial edition of San Fernando High School’s yearbook was hijacked about two weeks ago by thieves who broke into a classroom and stole the Macintosh computer and data discs that stored about half of the book’s text.

The theft sent the yearbook staff and faculty advisors into panic, as they scrambled to recreate lost stories and photographs in time to submit the 1995-96 yearbook--a special edition designed to commemorate the school’s 100th anniversary--to the publisher.

Students worked late into the evening and on weekends to rewrite portions of the stolen material.

But when the publishing company learned of the school’s problem, it agreed to push back the deadline, said yearbook advisor Ivan Cheng.

“It seems they’re forgiving” of the deadline, Cheng said.

“Drop-dead day is tax day--April 15. If we’re any later than that, it’s iffy as to whether we’ll actually get the yearbook back from the publisher before the end of the [school] year.”

To ensure the new deadline is met, students will work during spring break, which begins Friday and lasts through the following week.

After news reports of the theft at the school, yearbook staff received numerous offers of support, said Assistant Principal Barbara Garry.

“Schools as far away as San Diego have called to offer encouragement,” Garry said. Anonymous donations of cash were received totaling about $500.

A private businessman donated a computer printer and another person donated a lap-top computer.

In addition, San Fernando High School alumni and former yearbook staff who heard about the theft have come back to help, Cheng said.