Pleasanton Group Raises $225K For Local School; Plans New Project

PLEASANTON, CA — A local group dedicated to improving Pleasanton schools has reached its goal of raising $225,000 for a project at Amador Valley High School.

We are Pleasanton, spearheaded by parent Todd Utikal, was born after Measure M failed in the primary election, falling 2.6 percent short of the 55 percent majority needed to pass. Next, the group plans to turn its attention to a rebuild of the Pleasanton Middle School Field.

"We did this as a diverse community with a singular focus," Utikal wrote in an email to the group. "Do something great for Pleasanton students!"

The money is slated to be used to build an 8,000-square-foot, sail-style shade structure for Amador Valley High School, in the school's colors. While the project was in the works before Bay Area counties enacted the first stay-at-home order in March, Utikal previously told Patch that the shade structure could play a role in outdoor education, when students eventually return to campus.

PUSD has been working with an architect for the project since December, after the group committed to raising the money, Utikal said.

With an eye toward the future, Utikal said in the email that We are Pleasanton hopes to bring a track and field site to Pleasanton Middle, plus baseball backstops, a cricket pitch and room for other sports.

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