The word is "marquee", "a permanent canopy often of metal and glass projecting over an entrance (as of a hotel or theater) b: a sign usually over the entrance of a theater or arena that displays the names of featured attractions and principal performers"

"Marquis", "A nobleman ranking below a duke and above an earl or a count. Used as a title for such a nobleman."

I want an Amador Marquis! He could stand outside the school all day in costume, emcee football games... We could all have our picture taken with him, tourists would come, how cool! We charge per photo and raise money for the school! It would be like Buckingham Palace...a marquis trumps a guard, don't you think? BETTER than Buckingham Palace! The first high school in the world with it's own marquis! Seriously, let's get on this, it's a moneymaker and just too cool.

Would the job description require a french speaker??

unclehomerr..

Being pleasanton, it would have to be a REAL marquis. Not a fake dress up one, a real one. we got the money for it, so why not?

but, what does foothill get then?

Who raised the money? Boosters? They can spend the money as they wish.
As an Amador parent I say build it-I've seen nicer marquees than ours in the boonies of the central valley.
If it's digital and controlled from the office all the better-no one risking a fall putting up and taking down those letters anymore.

What might the "community" want the money to be used for instead?
Should we let the district decide?

I remember going into the PUSD office on Bernal a few years back (Mary Francis Callan days) to discuss the district's desire to charge the parent club at Vintage Hills $10,000 for a music portable for our kids and finding several of the offices there under construction. When I asked what was being done the superintendent's secretary sheepishly told me that MFC's office was being enlarged and other offices were moving around for "convenience." When I tried to find out what PUSD budget had funds for administrative "convenience" but not for our kids (in that overcrowded school)-surprise I got the run-around but no answers.

Let's have our marquee. The district can take care of itself!

Foothill gets a footman. The guy who waited on the marquis.

okay - so the person messed up BUT I think there was good intention - to see what the public thought - geesh - why do you feel the need to be so nasty? - chewing up restaurants - spewing venom - projectile vomiting garbage to put down others - sure sounds like this is a community of character alright! RESPECT, COMPASSION, - no wonder where the kids get the attitudes they have. IT'S the PARENTS !!!! Grow up - be nice to your neighbors - PAY IT FORWARD - some act of kindness may come back to help you.
I think it's about time Amador installs a state-of-the-art MARQUEE. If there really is a fund with money in it for THAT purpose let it be done.

I apologize to the Don family for the unkindness of our neighbors

Jeez, I was enjoying the creativity, not feeling cruel about the spelling mistake.

Debra, I don't think that any of the folks posting above meant any disrespect or were rude. Clarifying what the person meant was my intent on the first reply. Others seemed to be tickled by the idea of additional fundraising ideas and were filling some time before the real AV families weighed in on the topic of spending the funds which had already been raised. There was no name calling, no slandering, no taunting... just a little community joshing/playfulness. I'm sorry if you felt disrespected, but I think that maybe a little chuckle or two (at no one's expense, really) is a good way to start the year off. Gentle humor = ok; hateful name calling is not, I agree.

The original joke was funny, but let's try to stay on topic here.

How much money has been raised? A nice brick or stone base with a color digital display screen runs anywhere from $24K to $35K.

Usually sold under the name of digital sign/billboard, these "marquees" promote communication and can be valuable emergency tools. If there's money, let's have it!

What else is new.......Amador High School has mediocre management and administration and it shows in most things they do or don't succeed in doing.

Are the funds you refer to the ones BOOSTERS raised? If so, I helped raise some of those funds and am embarrassed that the funds I told sponsors and participants would be used to errect a new marquee have not been used to do so. Let's get our act together or return the donations!!!

I absolutely think the money should be used NOW for the marquis. Parents and members of the community donated the money specifically for the purpose of the marquis. There is no reason, if the money is there, for it to be put off!

Why not spend the money on academic or athletic programs?

This is the internet, people make fun of you big deal.

Personally, i think the money can be spent on other things, besides the marquee. So it looks flashy, whatever. Our schools are lacking in funds. All show no go? FHS renovated the library and installed hundreds if not thousands of sq.ft. of solar panels, and my classroom doesn't have enough copies because they are running out of copy money...

From what I understand, while the district seems to be in a money crunch, the money for the marquee cannot be used for instruction etc. Students and boosters raised this money for this specific purchase. If not used for the marquee, the money would just sit around. The district might also be afraid to have the boosters/student body purchase and install something like this, as it would "look bad" at a time when there is supposedly no money. If I'm correct, I heard that this money has been set aside by students/boosters for the last several years, and is just awaiting administrative approval. No doubt that the district is afraid that neighbors would complain about how bright the sign is, or that it is a traffic distraction...nothing in pleasanton happens without someone complaining...I think its a shame that our High School has the horrible sign that it has now...most schools have electronic signs, and here we are, a school with a Jumbotron on our football field, and a marquee that you have to post plastic letters on with a suction stick. I don't even think the sign works anymore does it...I haven't seen announcements on that sign forever!

Just a note, the "jumbotron" (color display and scoreboard) referred to above was paid for with totally private fundraising and donation. Not a penny of public money. Just want to nip any argument in the bud on that one.

Not sure if the same can be said for the proposed new "Sign" for the front of the school. I know that at least a portion of the proceed's would come from booster fundraising, but not all.

Given the aweful state of budgets and the economy in general, I can't see money being spent on something that seems so frivilous, while essentials are potentially cut?

If the boosters raised money for the purpose of a marquee as stated by Becky above. I can't imagine that any sponsor who contributed would have a problem with those funds going to sponsor athletic team/programs vs returning the money. Its not like the sign was going to have "sponsored by" with a list of companies etc... all over it.

It is important to keep some perspective here.

There is a disfunctional Marquee which used to tell when and where the games were. I loved it but they stopped keeping it up a few years back. I think that has cost the school thousands of dollars. Why, I use to go by Amador once a week and I could see when the games were. If I had a Friday evening off I would go to the game and I would get some of the old timers to go with me.

I don't know when the games are now without going online. I would prefer to have the old markee fixed and I really would like to tell others that having an opinion on how others should spend their money is presumptive. After saying that, those that raised the money from someone has a "contract" to spend the money as it was raised.

Thanks Doug, "reasonable" does not pretend to be any simpler than Doug's comment.

Knowing what we now know about our District's budget woes, can anyone really feel whining about needing marquee appropriate? Perhaps as suggested, the Boosters need to assess their priorities and fundraise for items that provide true educational value.

I like the humor in the previous posts. But in all honesty and seriousness, with the budget crisis in hand, are we going to debate the merits of a sign? Realy?? Look it up online? We all have the technology. Pleasantonians, you are good people, but come on...give up the sense of entitlement many have passed on to these kids. Give this $$ to teachers jobs and programs that are in jeopardy. I'd rather contribute to a musical performance than to a damn sign that tells me what night and where.

*clapping for Karen*