Arts School Coverage Is Panned by Critics

Re “Arts School Skating on Thin Ice,” Nov. 28:

As a student at the Orange County High School of the Arts, I found the article to be inappropriately balanced in opinion. Students here are aware of the school’s current financial problems; however, the title suggests a precariousness of position that is far from reality.

The High School of the Arts isn’t going anywhere. Yes, sacrifices will have to be made, but the problem with the school is not that we’ve failed to demonstrate commitment to the goals set forth by Santa Ana Unified School District, but that the district simply is operating on an unrealistic time frame. The school’s halls are already jampacked with students; there simply is no more space.

The facility is already pushed past a desirable occupancy. Where is the space to fit the 30% of district students? The only way to change the geographic composition of the school so soon would be to change auditioning procedures.

The school’s arts faculty simply is amazing. All instructors are the tops in their fields. However, so are the students. I can say that working with talented fellow students has pushed me just as hard as my working with talented instructors.

The only solution to the problem the district is raising would be to lower audition standards to fit in Santa Ana students. I understand that many Santa Ana students don’t have the resources to be trained with as much quality as students from other, more affluent neighborhoods do. However, our instructors need the freedom to choose the most-talented students in the applicant pool and place them in the school, blind to geographic location or special circumstances.

It’s way too early for the district to be complaining about the school’s composition.

Grant Wahlquist

Grade 12, High School of the Arts

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Re “Art High School’s Stardust Fades,” Nov. 28:

I was stunned when I read the headline. It is obvious to anyone who has been paying attention that the high school has achieved remarkable successes in one short year since moving to Santa Ana. It is irresponsible to run a headline that characterizes such successes as unqualified failure.

Though the article does have some positive quotes from students and hints at the remarkable achievements of the school, the omission of relative facts creates a very misleading overview. It was reported that there are now 1,060 students there. However, it was not reported that when the school was in Los Alamitos total enrollment was about 430. Enrollment not only doubled but it has gone far beyond the initial target of 800. The headline “failed to meet enrollment expectations” is not appropriate.

It was also reported that “less than 10%” of the total enrollment is from Santa Ana. What was not reported is that 48 Santa Ana students were enrolled last year; as the school begins it second year in Santa Ana, 100 students from the city are enrolled--a more than 100% increase in just one year.

In what is now officially designated a recession, the school and every other publicly funded and not-for-profit arts organization are going to have to work hard to garner funds to maintain and expand programs. People are hesitant to invest in failing causes. Fortunately, this school’s successes are so obvious that being mischaracterized in one article won’t do much harm.

But The Times should take care to be a more conscientious partner to the community.

Mike McGee, Art gallery director

Cal State Fullerton