By Mary-Justine Lanyon
At the Sept. 17 meeting of the Rim of the World Unified School District board of trustees, Crestline resident Sara Green presented the vision she and the Skyland Arts Foundation have for the mountain.
She explained that they were preparing an application for California’s Community Resilience Centers grant program.
“This is a major opportunity to create a permanent resource that would serve our mountain communities both during normal times and during emergencies,” Green said.
“Our vision is to develop a performing arts and community center where ticketed weekend events – including concerts, comedy shows, culinary events and other entertainment – would help support free or low-cost arts education during the week.”
Green went on to say that they “envision students participating in field trips, after-school arts programming, career technical education and workforce development opportunities. The facility would also support disaster preparedness and response through uses such as emergency shelter, food and supply distribution, community coordination and other resiliency services.”
She pointed out that, during past disasters, the school district “has gone far beyond its educational role. It has transported children off the mountain, helped establish shelters, distributed food and provided critical support to families.
“The district has repeatedly stepped forward to care for our community and we would welcome the opportunity to complement these efforts,” Green told the board.
The six-year grant program would span from 2027 through 2033.
Green’s request to the school district was simple, she said: “We would like to meet with Dr. Sevillano and the appropriate district representatives to explore the district’s potential in this project.”
The grant application was due at the end of September, with awards expected to be made in the spring of 2027.
Following the school board meeting, Green confirmed that she and Jonathan Thompson, founder of Skyland Arts Foundation and owner of the historic theater property in Crestline, did meet with school district representatives.
“They agreed to be a partner on the grant with us,” Green said.
The grant was submitted on Sept. 30 with the Skyland Arts Foundation as the lead applicant and the Rim of the World Unified School District, Rim of the World Recreation and Park District and Mountain Counseling and Training joining as partners.
“It’s a dream team for our community and our emergency coordination,” Green said.
Green added that they received many letters of support from community members, businesses and local agencies.
“I believe the letters totaled 80 to 100 unique community perspectives advocating to the California Strategic Growth Council (which administers the grant) why the community needs and deserves this funding.”
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