Lincoln High School’s basketball gym gets makeover using Proposition 28 funds
A new mural painted across the bleachers in Lincoln High School’s Pence Gym now showcases student creativity — a project designed by a professional artist and brought to life with help from students using state arts education funding approved by voters.
The project cost $10,250.25 and was paid for with funds from Proposition 28, a ballot initiative voters passed in 2022 to support arts education in schools.
Sydney Dunmore, a professional muralist, said the design process was collaborative and included student input.
“I worked closely with the school to make sure the mural reflected their vision and school spirit,” she said. “I created six different mockups, and the leadership class voted on their favorite design, which is the one we ultimately brought to life on the wall. It was important to me that students had a voice in the final outcome.”
Students worked under the guidance of Dunmore’s team.
“My employee and I guided them through the process, assigning sections, and making sure things were happening in the correct order, and then we stayed after they left each day to keep the project moving forward,” she said. “Watching them take ownership of the mural was one of the most rewarding parts.”
The project took seven days to complete, but the idea began more than a year and a half earlier with former principal Jennifer Hladun.
“The painting itself took seven days, but the project has been in the works for much longer. I had my first meeting with Lincoln’s former principal, Jen, over a year and a half ago — she was the one who originally envisioned painting the bleachers,” she said. “Although the school has since transitioned to a new principal, the project remained a priority.”
Statewide, Proposition 28 passed in November 2022 with 64.4% of the vote. In Placer County, the measure passed more narrowly, with 52.3% voting in favor and 47.7% opposed.
The measure created a permanent funding stream for arts education in public schools beginning in the 2023-24 school year. It sets aside about 1% of the state’s K-12 education funding each year for arts and music programs, with most of the money required to be spent on hiring teachers and staff to provide arts instruction.
In Western Placer Unified School District, the program provided about $1.23 million in arts and music funding for this school year, according to state education data.
Principal Ashley Sandor said the mural started as a dream but is now a vibrant addition to the gym.
“This mural is more than paint on a wall. It is a reflection of pride, creativity and commitment of our students and school community,” she said. “We hope every student, parent and community member who walks into Pence Gym feels a sense of ownership and pride in this space.”
Dunmore said seeing the finished mural and students’ reactions made the project especially meaningful.
“Seeing it finished was such an amazing feeling, especially watching the students’ reactions. It’s been a long time in the making, so it feels surreal to see it fully complete,” she said.
The artist said art on school campuses can be more than decoration — it can help build identity, pride and belonging.
“When students help create something that will live on their campus for years, it changes how they see their environment. They don’t just walk past a wall; they see something they helped build,” Dunmore said. “That ownership matters. My goal with every school mural is to create something that students feel connected to. Something that inspires them every time they walk into the space.”
