Board approves new ROP photography class

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]CUSD approved a new photography class for the 2013-2014 school year on Dec. 12 at their monthly meeting. The pursuit for a photography class on campus began when English teacher Mr. Savay Lieu came up with the initial idea and Assistant Principal Mr. Kevin Herington presented it to the district. The proposal was denied at the time, but that did not extinguish Mr. Lieu’s enthusiasm.

“It didn’t get approved because of timing and budget,” Mr. Lieu said. “We have to be patient with the process. We’re going to start off really small by having one class, and hopefully it’ll continue to grow.”
The details of the class, especially the budget, remain unclear since it is still early. However, it would be funded by ROP.

It will be a yearlong beginning digital photography class where students will learn about photographic history, technology, composition and more.

Mr. Lieu also contacted Canon about their educational program and about buying professional cameras. As of now, he plans on purchasing 20 cameras, which range from $400 to $7,000. Having access to a $400 professional camera on a daily basis will open many doors for students with dreams of pursuing careers in photography. This course is UC approved and is eligible for “f” credit.

Mr. Lieu plans to have students register for the class without an application or a tryout process, and he hopes to keep it available for tenth through twelfth graders. After three years, Mr. Lieu is happy to see the hours of work and research pay off.

“If it were not for the hard work of Mr. Kevin Herington and Dr. Kate Franceschini, the class would not have passed,” Mr. Lieu said. “For now, my attention will go towards my English classes, the upcoming Boys Tennis season and preparing for the new photo class.”