Local Columns
From the superintendent's desk…
Music space at York High School
By Dr. Henry R. Scipione
York Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Henry R. Scipione
The revised project is significantly different from last year in that it is a request for instructional space only. The project excludes the construction of a new auditorium. Similarly, the cost for this project is significantly lower than the full auditorium project of last year.
The Need
The request for music instructional space comes from the need to provide an adequate learning environment for York High School students involved in the choral and band programs. Currently, we do not have dedicated space for choral instruction. The band program is currently housed in a space that is too small for the number of participating students. We currently have 224 students in the choral program and 61 students in the band. These numbers are expected to increase because of the participation rate at the middle school. This has been a recognized problem and the project being submitted to the voters will correct this problem by providing much needed music room space.
The Description
The proposal provides two large instructional spaces (band and chorus), three smaller practice areas and two teacher offices. The total square footage would be 10,959 square feet. These spaces were originally part of the full auditorium project that went to the voters in May 2006. This project would result in a phased approach to the full auditorium/instructional space project. The instructional space is the priority over the performance (auditorium) space; however, the need for a full auditorium will remain and should be considered as part of the future capital needs of our school and our community.
The Benefit
The benefit of this project is that it will provide appropriate instructional space necessary for our band and choral programs. This space would be large enough to accommodate the number of students involved in these programs and space for related storage. Smaller student practice areas would provide space for individual or small group instruction and practice. It would remedy the current problem of severe instructional space limitations.
The Cost
The cost of this project is estimated at $2.1 million. The School Committee is proposing that, with voter approval, we use the interest earned money from the middle school construction project in the amount of $1.3 million plus $350,000 from the school fund balance. This leaves a balance of $498,605, which could be bonded over 20 years. With the use of the interest earned money and the fund balance the impact on the taxes is considerably less than the cost of the full project. In other words, the $2.1 million project would cost the taxpayer $498,605 in new money. If this project is bonded, it would impact the tax rate by slightly over one cent.
The Future
The instructional space project is being designed to accommodate a future auditorium should the voters approve an auditorium at a later time. The location of the instructional area will be positioned in order to accommodate later construction of a new auditorium. The intent of this phased approach is to retain the integrity of the original auditorium/music wing that was proposed last year. At a time in the future when the community supports the construction of a new auditorium, it can be built in such a way that it will connect with this instructional space, and with the current gymnasium, as was proposed last year.
There are several advantages to using this approach for addressing the space needs at York High School. First is that it will provide the needed space for instructional purposes to accommodate the increased student participation in our music program. Second is that this project will enable us to build an auditorium at a later date that will fit within the existing footprint. This is being done so that the original design, including the auditorium, can eventually be built. The proposed project does not address the performance space needs. Until a new auditorium is built, we will continue to use other venues for our larger performances. Approval of this project will address the instructional space issue only. The third advantage to this approach is that it will allow a phased approach to the payment of the full project. This phase-in approach will allow the total cost of the project to be spread over a longer time period and will ease the impact to the taxpayer.
Although the full project was defeated last year, the needs of our students and our community have not changed. The School Committee heard the voice of the voters and responded with a proposal that is reasonable and sets priorities for meeting the instructional needs of students at York High School. The use of interest earned money and fund balance allowed the impact to the taxpayer for this project to be as low as possible. It is hoped that the community views this proposal as sensible and cost effective and supports it with a positive vote in May.
