Houlton: Proposed Houlton High Arts Center Touted

By Jen Lynds, Bangor Daily News, Maine

May 9–Supporters of the effort to create a new arts center at Houlton High School know that achieving their goal will take a great deal of work and a big chunk of money.

In the end, however, they believe that the payoff for the school district, its students and the area will be huge.

Two years ago, officials with the Houlton High School music department unveiled an ambitious proposal for a state-of-the-art fine arts wing at the school, quickly gaining concept approval for the proposal from the school board, which created a process for the music boosters group to find funding for the project.

Now, school officials and community members are rapidly gathering more steam in their effort to secure the $5 million that is needed to expand and renovate the high school to create the Houlton Community Arts Center.

Hundreds of young musicians participate in the SAD 29 music program, and students are currently bursting out of the practice and performance areas. There is little office and practice space available in the music department, and several rooms are crammed with instruments, sheet music, costumes and equipment.

The school board voted on Monday evening to take the first steps necessary to convene a referendum this fall that will put a $5 million bond proposal before voters. Half of the bond — $2.5 million, would be put toward the creation of the HCAC, while the remainder would pay for the final bit of renovation work that needs to be completed at the high school.

Supporters of the project say they intend to raise half of the money that is needed to create the arts center through private matching funds over 24 months. The Houlton Community Arts Center Council, which is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit, charitable organization, has been created to raise the money. Thus far, they have garnered approximately $250,000.

During a school board meeting on Monday evening, members of the HCAC’s campaign fundraising committee talked to the panel about the project.

Committee member Sue Waite-York said that the 13,000-square-foot arts center will have its own entrance with a marquee over it to welcome visitors. The existing 552-seat auditorium will be renovated and expanded to seat 600 people. The facility will feature more storage space, improved acoustics and separate band, chorus, theatre and dance space, so that rehearsals and activities for several groups can be conducted at one time.

“This is a wonderful project for future students of SAD 29 and for citizens of our area,” Elizabeth Anderson, the co-chairman of the HCAC’s campaign fundraising committee, said on Monday evening. “It’s a significant project and it’s going to take a great deal of effort … but we know that the vision will become a reality in the not-so-distant future.”

David McGillicuddy, a music teacher in the district for nearly four decades, agreed.

“Right now, more than 100 high school students and 80 junior high school students participate in band or chorus,” he explained, adding that the figures represent more than 60 percent of middle school pupils and 45 percent of high school students. “Those are outstanding numbers.”

While enrollment in the district has decreased over the years, he added, student participation in music and the arts has not.

Approximately 20 community organizations also seek meeting and performance space at the high school, according to McGillicuddy.

If the bond is put forth and approved by voters, SAD 29 Superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick said that taxes in the district will not increase — the funds currently allocated for annual renovations at the high school will pay the annual interest and principle on the bond.

“A bond that provides $5 million total that isn’t going to raise my taxes is a significant bonus,” Fred Grant, co-chairman of the HCAC campaign fundraising committee, said during the meeting.

The HCAC Council

will continue to accept contributions for the project. For more information, contact Elizabeth Anderson at 532-2667, David McGillicuddy at 532-6551, Fred Grant at 532-5979 or Joe Fagnant at 532-6551.

—–

Copyright (c) 2007, Bangor Daily News, Maine

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.