By LACEY PETERSON

The Union Democrat

"We can do a lot of things," Jim Roeber said enthusiastically, "We gotta get on it!"

The Sonora Union High School District Alternative Education principal reiterated this sentiment several times Tuesday night as he led a presentation on the Facilities Report to the district's board of trustees.

"It's time to look ahead," Roeber told the board.

Roeber and Sonora High Principal Todd Dearden, along with 45 community members, including former principal Terry Clark, have worked for 15 months on the Advanced Facilities Planning Report.

Over many meetings and brainstorming sessions, Roeber said, the No. 1 issue community members have concerning the future of the district is "We need to address programs."

"Facilities are going to follow the function," Roeber said.

He presented six recommendations from the planning leadership team:

• Develop career technical education programs while planning for facilities to support those programs.

• Maintain strong college preparatory and arts programs and develop other educational programs.

• Explore the acquisition of property and joint-use opportunities for athletic fields, alternative education, district office and parking.

• Modernize and improve the Sonora High campus.

• Keep the district's Tuolumne Road property, but also look at alternative spaces.

• Ensure and develop public-private partnerships with other agencies-organizations in consideration of all recommendations

Roeber and general engineering contractor Mike McConnell relayed to the board that it would be too expensive to move the campus to the Tuolumne Road property. Roeber also said the team agreed it is important to keep Sonora High as the hub of the district.

Stephanie Suess, Sonora Elementary School parent club president, urged the board to look into the possibilities of using the Tuolumne Road property as an agricultural education campus.

"It's time to step up and be that community leader," Suess said.

Roeber, Suess, McConnell and other community members like Pat Dean, former ROP nursing teacher and Yosemite Community College District trustee, and Jim Owen, chief operations officer of Front Porch Inc., repeated the message, ringing of "build it and they will come," but in terms of programs.

"How do we keep the kids in the county?" McConnell asked. "Let's show them some reason to want to stay."

Health science and medical technology, building trades and construction, and information and computer technology were the three areas Roeber recommended focusing on first.

Contact Lacey Peterson at lpeterson@uniondemocrat.com or 588-4540.