As we await a final response from the School Board, we thought it important to inform you, our supporters, of where we are in the current process of "Saving Pocatello High School." We will also be making additional statements once we have received all of the comments from the from the School Board --expected any day now. So far they have been very kind, considerate and helpful without making any concessions to our requests. Ultimately we know that we will be able to work together to make a better Pocatello High School.

It has always been the contention of "Save Pocatello High School," that if the public was aware of the school district plans, that they would not be supportive of the current glass modernist appendage, nor the defacing of the main building --with the addition of a third door and entryway. Our current success, in gaining over 1700 signatures, confirms this assumption to be correct.

We can all agree that there are many needs to be met and solved at Pocatello High School; additional classroom space, office and public accessibility, safety, and ADA accessibility, but it is our opinion that a large portion of our community would want to resolve those problems while maintaining the historical and traditional architecture - something the current plan does not accomplish.

Our main concern is that we build something that is complimentary and in harmony with the existing structure. We have been asking that an outside expert be added to the design team. Someone knowledgable in historical preservation, with vast experience in adding new contemporary additions to old existing traditional architecture. We do not believe this request is unreasonable. We have suggested several possible names and organizations that can help in that regard. We believe that the selection of such an individual or organization would save time, money, and begin the process of thinking outside the box. Ultimately we believe it will prevent the further destruction of Pocatello High School.

In the 1970's the School District voted to board up the windows of Pocatello High School, today it is universally recognized that was a tragic mistake. It is our hope that a similar mistake be avoided. When our position is explained, most individuals agree and believe that our request is reasonable. That is why we were able to submit to the Board of Trustees a petition with over 1700 signatures --a great accomplishment.

We have also been asking several other requests that we elaborate on in future posts. So far we have not received a formal complete response. (January 21. 2019 )

With that background, we are now preparing to move into stage two of our campaign. Stage two will consist of the following:

INFORM A FRIEND CAMPAIGN. The main purpose of this campaign is to inform every community member of the school district's intent. Again, it is the contention of "Save Pocatello High School," that the public is still largely unaware of the School District's proposed solution for Pocatello High School. "Save Pocatello High School" believes that the public will side with those of us who believe in history, tradition, and beauty and that one can meet contemporary needs without destroying the past. Although the school board has paid lip service to those ideals their current proposal is incongruent with those ideals. The INFORM a FRIEND CAMPAIGN will consist in asking our seventeen hundred supporters to inform 10 individuals to the plight of Pocatello High School and to ask family and friends to sign the petition. We believe that we can garner 17,000 signatures with this effort to take before the School Board, but more importantly to take before the Historic Preservation Commission and the City Council. We are starting this campaign soon.

INFORM A COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN. To support the "Inform a Friend Campaign" we intend to place posters on the lawns of our supporters. This campaign is being formulated to bring more awareness of Pocatello High School's plight to the Pocatello/Chubbuck area. A Pocatello Poster Design contest is in the works and we are in need of volunteers to deliver lawn posters to family and friends. For more information please PM "Save Pocatello High School" or contact us at 801.560.3564.

MEDIA CAMPAIGN. Although we have had terrific support from the local media with press, radio and TV coverage that vast majority of our success has come from social media. Several of our videos have been watched over 2,000 times. We will continue to make our story known and understood. We intend to double the output of our social media efforts. Currently we are in need of students or interns who would like to be involved in the process of film production, editing and storytelling. A great opportunity to be involved in an important cause while learning video production skills. We are formulating plans for two video campaigns the "We Love Pocatello High School" --stories of Pocatello High School from local friends, and family of alumni. And the "Save Pocatello High School" series - a video awareness campaign about the importance of maintaining and preserving Pocatello's patrimony of historical and traditional architecture and how the preservation of Pocatello High School and old town will benefit the local community. It will also be a primer on historical preservation, community building, architecture and art, and the need for all within a thriving community. We will also continue our "short ad "campaign for our current messaging needs. Currently interested parties can contact us through the contact information on our Facebook page.

WEBSITE. The Save Pocatello High School Web Site is under development. This website will centralize all of our activities and make information more accessible to everyone, as well as provide better and easier ways to contact us. We will also soon be restructuring our Facebook page so as to help facilitate better discussion, ideas, and thinking outside the current modernist box and to promote the idea , "that we want what is best for Pocatello High School." all of the amenities without the destruction of the existing architecture.

FUND RAISING. We are currently looking into options for a legal structure that will allows us to continue our operations and raise money for it's support, and possibly move into a "Save Pocatello High School" 501 c3 non-profit organization that can raise money for the replacement of the windows, the old gym entry way, and other unsightly desecrations caused by previous School Board decisions.

It is an an exciting and busy time. Together we can improve what is happening to Pocatello High School. We would love your input and support. Thank you for making a difference and for helping "Save Pocatello High School."

Steven Robert McCurdyS