LANCASTER – Monte Vista Elementary has been selected from hundreds of nominations as a finalist in the “Colorful Classrooms Contest,” a nationwide search for one elementary school most in need of a complete makeover.
The winner will receive a colorful makeover with up to 200 gallons of Glidden® paint, and the company will supply labor to paint the inside or outside of the winning elementary school.
Monte Vista is one of five national finalists, and the only school on the west coast, competing in the contest for the most online public votes from now through October 26.
To help Monte Vista Elementary win the contest, simply click on the link below, and then cast your vote for Monte Vista Elementary.
VOTE HERE: www.glidden.com/contest/vote.do
You don’t have to give personal information, like your name or email address, and anyone with an Internet connection can vote. However, only one vote can be registered per Internet Protocol (IP) address. This means if there are three people in a household that go online and vote, only the first vote will count from that home computer, said Monte Vista school officials.
“The message we want to give to the community is: vote once at your work computer and then vote once at your home computer or iPad,” said Monte Vista teacher Julie Plaisance. “The next step is to forward the link to your family and friends so they can vote too.”
Monte Vista Elementary was chosen as a finalist in the Colorful Classrooms Contest after Plaisance submitted the nomination. (Read the one page profile with the information submitted here.)
“Our proposal talked about the fact that our exterior buildings are very faded and cracked and weathered,” Plaisance said. “We talked about the fact that we’re the closest elementary school to the newly remodeled boulevard in downtown Lancaster… but if you drive by our campus it doesn’t leave a good impression, because it’s so aging.”
“Monte Vista is a 60-year-old campus built for 500 students, but now serves over 840 children,” said Monte Vista’s Principal Samnang Yuom, in a news release. “Our buildings may be faded, cracked, and weathered, but we are a vibrant learning community.”
For three consecutive years, Monte Vista students have improved their test scores and perform at, or above, district averages, Plaisance said.
“We would like to believe that we’re the crown jewel of the district, we just don’t look like it right now,” Plaisance said.
A panel of judges selected the five finalists for the “Colorful Classrooms Contest” based on need, scope of project, potential impact on the student body, community engagement, and quality and creativity of entry.
The other finalists in the competition are: Franklin Elementary School in Kent, OH; Jefferson Elementary School in Gallup, NM; Saltillo Elementary School in Saltillo, MS; and The Orion School in Atlanta, GA.
Public voting runs from Monday, Oct. 8 through Oct. 26. Once you cast your vote, you’re able to see current voting results.
According to the online voting results (as of Monday, Oct. 8), Monte Vista Elementary School is currently at third place with just eight percent of the votes. Help Monte Vista become number one by voting online now.
To vote for Monte Vista Elementary right now, visit http://www.glidden.com/contest/vote.do.
The winner will be notified on October 29, and the painting project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
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lucycovarrubias says
deseamos que la escuela monte vista sea cada vez mejor y se que lo van a lograr
Letlow says
@ Kim Cook
Thank you for volunteering your precious time to benefit your school and this community. I have voted at work and at home and I’ve been spreading the word to as many people as possible. I’m so bummed that you are still in 4th place, but you are catching up to the other three. You just need to keep the momentum going.
I’m even thinking of driving my laptop to different Internet cafes just to help you out if that will help. Perhaps you should have the Mayor announce this venture at the next council meeting. Contact all the other PTAs at all the other local schools and have them spread the word as well.
A win for Monte Vista is a win for our community, because this contest has national exposure. Good luck with your efforts. I will continue to spread the word.
Kim Cook says
Thanks Lynda! I wonder if that would work? LOL Our school district is strongly supporting us and is helping to spread the word. We are planning on going to the Farmers Market to spread the word there the next 2 thursdays and pass out little flyers with the address to vote, hoping that will start things rolling. And word is that Mayor Parris is excited about this as well. We will see where that leads. ;-) All in all, we want to get Los Angeles media coverage from any of the local tv stations…that would really be amazing!!! So if anyone has any leads, please let us know!
Thanks everyone!!!
lynda Hengstebeck says
Ok let me try to clarify this. There is a contest from Glidden paint company and someone submitted an entry.Monte Vista Elementary School is one of the 5 finalist and the wining school receives a makeover $50,000 worth of paint and labor all donated paid for through this company. No tax money from anyone, it is just a click to vote. No personal information required. The rules are only one IP address per vote so yes you could vote at work and then at your home. Come on people of Antelope Valley this is for the children. I have grown up here and I am 65 years old and that school is at least 60 years old Please help just your vote is all that is needed! Lynda
moucher patrol says
I love the banter of “this for the children”. It’s a popular moucher ploy. Some people just like to pay taxes and then give more to boot. Some mouchers don’t pay taxes at all and then whine so taxpayers will cough up even more. Make do with the money you already rip off the taxpayers.
Danny K says
So what about the exorbatant schools taxes we pay? Where’s that going? Piss it away and then ask for more. Gotta love those school boards.
Mrs M says
so….which would you rather see the money spent on? Books or paint? equipment or paint? Supplies or paint? Glidden is running a contest offering a make-over. Nothing is coming out of your pocket. So what exactly is being pi$$ed away in your opinion? Don’t say teachers, because California teachers don’t even appear on the top 10 list of highest paid teachers in the country.
Quigley says
Mrs M I agree with you that our teachers are not compensated for the jobs they do….however you are mistaken as to what comes out of our pockets…it’s called taxes, and we are up to our ass in taxes!
Mrs M says
I agree we are up to our tushies in taxes, but this is a CONTEST. And this is what the article is about, not taxes or how they are spent. This is an opportunity for Lancaster as a community to make a difference at this school. Incidentally, I do know what comes out of our pockets – my paycheck, property taxes etc remind me every month. Jeez, all that’s being asked is to cast a vote for the school. And if they win it’s $50,000 that WON’T come out of the taxpayers pocket.
SoLetMeGetThisStraight says
Quote:
“The message we want to give to the community is: vote once at your work computer and then vote once at your home computer or iPad,” said Monte Vista teacher Julie Plaisance.
But on the rules page ( http://www.glidden.com/contest/rules.do ):
Only one vote per person will be accepted during the public voting period. The Finalist receiving the most valid votes will be the winner.
Obviously there is a flaw in the voting systems since it doesn’t require registration, but PUBLICLY guiding people to exploit that flaw???
Quigley says
Exploiting is what the school districts do best…and we let them!
lynda Hengstebeck says
This is not about the school district or the taxes that people pay it is about a make over for the school no cost to tax payers. If a publishing co out there also had a contest to supply free books then vote for that but this a make over paint and labor paid for by Glidden paint company. it is also creating some jobs in our area. Vote please Vote
resident since 1952
Greta says
Since it’s only one IP per vote, then a lot of votes will not count. For instance, what if all the kids voted at school from one computer? That would only count as one vote. So why not even things out by having people vote from home and at work. What the heck is it to you anyway? Best case scenario, this school gets a makeover that local taxpayers don’t have to pay for.
But you don’t see it that way do you? Because you are a miserable person and negative person. The time it took you to make this comment, you could’ve cast your vote for your local school. So hateful are the people in this town, it doesn’t matter what the subject is…
SoLetMeGetThisStraight says
I am not miserable… but if I notice an EDUCATOR quoted as directing people to do something expressly against the rules, I still get heated.
I voted. For Monte Vista, even.
I just believe they should demonstrate greater integrity and not shoot themselves in the foot for encouraging cheating.
lynda Gilbert says
There are 2 adults here in my home we have the same Ip address so only one of us can vote from home. My Daughter also has 2 adults and 2 children in her home so only one can vote. I am encouraging cheating just that all votes count.It would be like the election come November what if only one of our votes counted because we lived in the same household. Thank You for supporting monte Vista school and casting your vote.
lynn
Kim Cook says
I am the president of the PTO at Monte Vista. There is no cheating in casting votes from different devices. It is one vote per IP address. So you can vote on your Phone, at home, at work…there is nothing bad about this, Glidden even said it was ok to do. Relax friend! This is a national contest, that our school put in a proposal for and we were lucky to be chosen as a finalist! This has nothing to do with taxes, how the district runs our schools, teachers, administrators…it only has to do with winning a grant if you will, a contest where the Glidden company will professionally paint our school, at no charge to anyone! Please help support our efforts. It’s is about our children, our community and our city, heck even our state coming together to do something good for a school in need! Our PTO, the Monte Vista Parents Association is volunteering and working very hard to help improve our children’s learning experience. Its a good thing, please help!
Thank you!
jason says
absolutely yes yes yes monte vista needs a make over
lynda Hengstebeck says
Danny!
Please read the article about the contest and Monte Vista school. It has nothing to do with taxes. Someone submitted an entry for the School and they were selected and among 5 finalist the only school in California. They need the support from the community and your vote, it costs you nothing just a little time and a click of a button please help make this happen for this school. thank you
Tired of their ways says
Good Luck!!!
Hope the word gets out to all….Vote!!