Posted on February 25, 2013

Palo Alto School District Receives $20 Million Gift

The Palo Alto Unified School District has received a $20 million gift from a local parent who wishes to remain anonymous in support of renovations to indoor athletic facilities at Palo Alto High School, the Palo Alto Daily News reports.

The gift will be combined with $5.47 million in bond funds allocated for a new weight room at the school. According to the Daily News, the donor intends to work with an architect and construction company to help the school rebuild its outdated gymnasiums and construct a wrestling room, dance studio, weight room, and classrooms.

If the Palo Alto High School board approves conceptual designs at its meeting on March 12, construction could begin as early as 2014 and conclude about a year after that. A school spokesperson told the Daily News that along with the students, area residents will benefit from expanded athletic facilities.

"In any given week, we're contacted by anywhere from five to ten organizations that are looking to book a field or gymnasium and we have to say, 'no,'" said Palo Alto High School assistant principal Kimberly Diorio. "I think this has a huge impact on the entire community, because we'll be able to offer more times during the day, on weekends, and nights when we can make these spaces available."