Corona del Mar High to Be Refurbished

NEWPORT BEACH — Students at Corona del Mar High School most likely will see a big change to their campus when they return for classes in the fall.

Trustees of the Corona del Mar High School Foundation have voted to have the school painted this summer and to refurbish the computer labs. Both Macintosh and IBM labs at the school will get $35,000 worth of new equipment, and the teaching staff will be trained in the new technology.

The improvements are the first of many planned for the school, thanks to the fund-raising efforts of the newly created foundation.

The organization was the brainchild of parents who thought that the school had deteriorated in recent years as programs were canceled and repairs put on hold because of budget restraints.

Since it was established two months ago, the foundation has raised $650,000 to pay for general improvements to the campus. Besides buying computers and sprucing up the campus, the foundation hopes to build a 500-seat theater and a technology center.

Kimberly Rothwell, spokeswoman for the foundation, said the group is well on its way to achieving its goal of raising $1 million this year. The fund-raising campaign, which kicked off in April, will continue through the summer.

“We are really pleased that so many people are interested,” she said.