Marco Horta Flores, 18, a student at the school, was arraigned last week on charges of felony arson and excessive loss damage. He could face up to nine years in prison with additional time if lawyers prove damage costs exceeded $1 million.

A 17-year-old unnamed former student effectively pleaded guilty to setting the fire in a Dec. 5 detention hearing in juvenile court. Instead of a guilty plea, in a detention hearing such as this in juvenile court, a defendant "admitted to the petition."

Mark Buller, assistant district attorney in charge of juvenile wards for Santa Clara County, said that because of the student's age, he was unable to discuss details of the case, and said that it would be some time before hearings would be held to determine the youth's punishment.

Separately, San Jose Unified School District will hold disciplinary hearings to decide what course of action to take against the students, said Karen Fuqua, district spokeswoman.

Both students have expressed remorse in their confessions, which may help them in the judgments against them, said Tom Farris, deputy district attorney, who is handling the Flores case.

Farris said fire investigations are a lengthy process and this case is ongoing, and at this point he has not heard of any connections between the Pioneer fire and any of the rash of seven other fires—including the other San Jose school fire at Gardner Elementary—that have occurred over the past two months in the Bay Area.

Damage to the Pioneer theater that also doubled as a cafeteria was estimated at $1 million. The theater's sound and lighting systems were destroyed, along with other items, including many of the stackable chairs used and stored in the room.

Minus the district's deductible of $100,000, insurance will cover all costs, Fuqua said, adding that the district hopes to be able to combine the funds from the insurance with monies from a bond measure passed in March 2002 that would allow for repair and rehabilitation of aging classrooms, classroom modernization and school-site improvements. Pioneer was slated to receive a portion of the $429 million bond for site improvements, but Fuqua did not have the exact amount available or an anticipated construction-start date.

"There was going to be renovation on that building," she said. "Now, at least, the site won't be impacted twice."

No plans have been set yet for restoration of the arts center, but Fuqua said it would most likely begin in the summer.

A complete inventory of all items in the theater and the rest of the building, where only smoke and water damage occurred, is necessary for cost replacement.

Steve Dini, the school's drama director, said that as the restoration service company has been removing things for cleaning and deodorizing, he has been cataloging each item, which will help him keep track of his inventory.

A long list of parents, theater lovers, community members and radio stations such as KFOG have offered to donate items such as radio equipment, but Dini said they haven't received anything yet. The first cash donation, which came in the form of a $250 check, was received from the Parent Teacher Association at Simonds Elementary School and presented to Dini and his touring road show of Pioneer students.

Dini and the entertainers of what he called a Honk, Jr. type of show went on the road in spite of the disaster and performed for the schoolchildren just a few days after the fire.

"It went very well," Dini said. "We rescued all the props from the prop room before the cleaning people got it. We hauled out the props—they really stink of smoke—bought a couple of gallons of Fabreez [deodorant] and spent most of the morning soaking the stuff."

The event, like much of the whole experience, was an emotional one, he said.

"I watched those kids performing, and just lost it a couple of times," he said.

Cash donations can be issued to San Jose Unified Educational Foundation and sent to 855 Lenzen Ave., San Jose, CA 95126. "Pioneer fund" in the memo line. Contact the school directly if interested in donating goods or services.