The Central Coast software and technology association Softec is asking the community to help provide immediate relief to San Luis Obispo High School Computer Lab that was burned on Dec. 8.
“Softec has been supporting local high school robotics for over 11 years and has given over $37,000,” wrote Joshua Erdman in setting up an online, Go Fund Me page, Friend’s of SLO High Robotics, “so when the computer lab that contains all the robots used by SLO High VEX Team 920 burns down, we react quickly.”
“Room 307 has been a safe environment during lunch for kids to go advance their technology skills and create lifelong friendships,” added Stewart Morse VP of Softec in an announcement. “Many engineers got their start from this classroom. We are driven to help them rebuild quickly, so that these students can get back to developing computer skills and advancing their robotics program. We realize this is an agonizing loss for Mrs. [Jan] Fetcho, the students and SLOHS.”
The day after the arson fire, for which three former students have been apprehended as suspects [see accompanying story], SLO High School Principal Leslie O’Conner told the SLO City News that the nature and target of the crime shocked him.
“Honestly that’s what took me aback,” he said. “Jan has been so well liked and loved on campus. That room has been a sanctuary for so many students through the years.”
By the end of the week classes and teachers homerooms in adjoining facilities had been moved to other accommodations on campus and the SLO High Robotics Club, was able to hold a regular meeting on Friday. Aside from the loss of campus equipment used by the whole school, the club lost robotics equipment that the students have been developing and building for several months to be used in an annual competition December 10 and a statewide competition in January.
Parts and supplies were offered from other area school to help them continue to compete, but the eclectic nature of the parts they’d been stockpiling over years makes it difficult for full reimbursement after insurance adjusters pore over the building, said O’Conner.
Thankfully the school will pull through financially for the structure damage and, “the students are resilient,” he said. “The loss of a sanctuary and a place of learning…that mental anguish for the students is very upsetting.”
Donations can be sent directly to the school Care of O’ Conner or through the Go Fund Me page: www.gofundme.com/friends-of-slo-high-robotics.
For the more old fashioned tax deductible approach, checks can be made payable to:
Softec, a fund with the Community Foundation SLO
And mailed to:
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County
550 Dana Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
