Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 11:00 pm
With a 3-2 vote, the Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education recently passed a resolution calling for a study of what the district requires in a performing arts center. The resolution is asking staff to assess needs, examine funding options and report back to the board.
Anyone who has seen a show or heard a concert at either Santa Fe High or Capital High can attest to the reality that performing arts students could use better facilities. That’s without question. All five school board members likely would agree on that point. What caused the split vote, though, is differing views about how best to fund a facility (or facilities).
At this point, disagreeing over whether money for better facilities to showcase music and theater should come out of bonds or another way is a tad premature. We’re pleased that a majority prevailed so that capable administrative staffers can investigate what the district needs.
In Rio Rancho, there’s the Cleveland High Concert Hall, a state-of-the-art, professional hall that seats 1,100, and the Rio Rancho High Performing Arts Center, a proscenium-style theater that seats about 650. Santa Fe might not be able to afford — or even need — such facilities, but surely students who love the arts deserve an upgrade.
Likely the most controversial question is whether a performing arts center should be built apart from the schools and centrally located. In other words, create one large space rather than simply upgrading what already exists at the two high schools. Staffers definitely should consider this option. After all, a new center could be a much-needed supplement to existing facilities such as the Lensic Performing Arts Center or The Santa Fe Opera. (We even wonder if the Greer Garson Theatre at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design can be thrown into the mix.)
All of that, of course, begs the question of whether this should be district-only project or whether other agencies could be brought in. The charter high school, the New Mexico School for the Arts, will be building a permanent campus soon — could one location serve all? Does Santa Fe Community College need such a space? The city of Santa Fe? Or Santa Fe County?
If this should become a cooperative project, would the school district pledge bond funds or look for other ways to pay its share? (Some have suggested selling naming rights as one way, especially since there are so many critical needs still remaining across the district, ready to soak up whatever voters do approve in the next bond election.)
To sum up, many questions need to be answered. But the first step, to study what Santa Fe needs and what students deserve — within our financial limits, of course — is being taken. That’s good news for Santa Fe students and the community.