The dilemma of hallways packed like a sardine can with students and traveling teachers steering plastic carts is a concern that may soon have to share the spotlight with another worsening problem in our school.

“The success of this school system and its incredible growth is the very reason why it’s now time to address the need for a new auditorium,” Celine Miller, parent of student Lily Miller, stated at the Oct. 2 school board meeting.

Miller spoke on behalf of the myriad of teachers, students, and families involved with the Fine Arts department at the meeting. The worsening conditions of the auditorium spurred teachers and families to promote their cause.

Superintendent Dr. Janet Emerick told the audience at the meeting that the school board is aware of the current condition of our auditorium, which was built in 1964. She said that a new auditorium and gymnasium were to be built with the Freshman Center, but both were cut due to monetary restrictions.

The school board is currently working on phasing in and funding a new gymnasium to accommodate the growing number of freshmen entering the school system. Dr. Emerick said that an auditorium will be next.

“I witness on a daily basis student athletes who must use hallways as practice areas. Therefore, I support wholeheartedly the administration’s move to add on for that purpose,” English teacher Mr. Ray Palasz said. Mr. Palasz also runs the technical aspect of the theater department.

The theater department appreciates the reasoning and work done by the administration.

“I felt that [Dr. Emerick’s] response showed that we are moving in the same direction, but the reality of the situation is these things take time and there are a lot of things that need attention in this facility,” theater director Mrs. Pamela Neth responded.

Erecting a new auditorium and gymnasium sounds like a wonderful idea, but funding the additions is another story.

“I truly believe that Dr. Emerick and the school board really want to solve the overcrowding issues here at the high school. Unfortunately, they are nervous about raising property taxes because of protesters who blocked a new auditorium and field house addition back in the early 1990s,” Mr. Palasz said.

Mr. Palasz believes that any opponents of the tax raise could be swayed by visiting the school.

“If the board really went public about conditions, and if they brought any nay-sayers into the building to see first-hand the needs of the school, there would be very little, if any, resistance to raising the property tax to pay for it,” Mr. Palasz said.

“If the board really went public about conditions, and if they brought any nay-sayers into the building to see first-hand the needs of the school, there would be very little, if any, resistance to raising the property tax to pay for it,” Mr. Palasz said.

A new auditorium is needed to accommodate the ever-growing school population. Only 500 seats are available in the auditorium, which can seat approximately one-sixth of the student body. The number of students also aggravates the problem of the small size of the stage.

“The auditorium is a staple in the curriculum of the arts classes, especially when the choir and band have performances incorporated into their class’s curriculums which take place in the auditorium,” Mrs. Neth stated. “At the present time the class sizes of these two programs have trouble fitting all of the students on the stage.”

The condition of the technical equipment used in performances was addressed at the meeting. The lighting system is as old as the auditorium. Last year the cost of overhauling the lighting system was estimated at $21,000; however, the renovations were not added into the school budget.

“Because it [the lighting system] is obsolete, replacement parts are no longer made, virtually impossible to find, and if they can be located, they are expensive. Obviously, it does not utilize the current technology which, by the way, is 20 years old,” Miller said. “Imagine our students using computers from the 1980s to access the internet.”

The obsolete equipment does not only hinder the quality of the Fine Arts department, but also the learning opportunities of the involved students.

“Right now the question is, is it of educational value to educate students on the operations of out-of-date equipment?” Mrs. Neth said. “So as of right now, it is not being incorporated heavily into a theater curriculum, therefore students’ education in the area is suffering as compared to other schools.”

The spotlights in the auditorium are no longer used due to their possibly hazardous location. To reach the spotlights, students must traverse a narrow path over drainpipes and ductwork to avoid falling through the ceiling.

The rigging system, the framework that holds up the curtains and lights, was inspected last year.

“To bring someone in from the outside to overhaul it, which was the inspector’s recommendation, would cost between $50,000 and $80,000,” Mr. Palasz said. “As of this interview, I am still waiting for repairs to begin. The repairs are to maintain the integrity of the system, as well as allow us a little more flexibility in our set designs.”

Mrs. Neth said that it seems a new auditorium will eventually be possible with the school’s budget.

“I think our next move will be to begin a public campaign to educate the community about the dire straits of our school facility and the overcrowding here in general,” Mrs. Neth stated.

Community involvement will prove to be a key ingredient in successfully mixing the increasing student body with the necessary renovations and additions to the school.

“I commend the board for making the current dollars raised for capital projects stretch as far as possible,” Mr. Palasz said. “Unfortunately, this means that projects wait years to be funded. Something needs to be done.”