Thespians demand safe, cushy seats

The Performing Arts Center has been the gathering place for drama days, laughingstock, global awareness programs, evening adult classes and Drivers’ Education for many years. The seats in the Performing Arts Center are abused, covered with graffiti and in an unsafe condition.

“Students and parents see all of the graffiti on the seats,” Bruce Wyatt, assistant superintendent, said. “It is embarrassing for everyone who wants the Performing Arts Center to look good.”

The Performing Arts Center is used everyday, five periods a day, by over 300 drama students. Due to time and use, the seats in the Performing Arts Center have proposed a hazard to all that sit in them. “I’m concerned about the safety issue,” Gina Girotti, drama teacher, said. “I have seen students sit in a seat and actually have it collapse beneath them.”

This is not a new problem. During the 98-99 school year, a proposal was made to get the seats replaced. Since then, the drama club has worked to raise over $5,000 to improve the conditions in the Performing Arts Center. “We worked so hard to get these seats, and we’ll never get use out of them,” Michaelia Carroll, drama club president, said.

The truth of the matter is that the seats might not get replaced for another three years. For the last year the school’s budget has been lean. The money that was intended to go to the seats was put towards a new sound system in the Theodore Kloos auditorium, which cannot be used.

“Even though there was enough money for the elaborate sound system there was not enough money for microphones. Therefore, the sound system is utterly useless,” Zak Uzupis, a choir member, said.

Every year, our principal writes up five building projects needed for renovation. Principal Mark Collins explained that new seats for the Performing Arts Center are on the “Big Five” list.

“New seats are something I have been aware of since my arrival,” Collins said, “I sure agree there is a need for them to be replaced.”

Basco, a company hired to review the buildings in the school district, along with the school board, will handle all upgrades for the renovation in the Performing Arts Center. Basco has estimated the cost of replacing the seats at a $15,000 range. This replacement includes the removal of the old seats and installation of new frames, cushions and all plastic needed for new seats.

The funds from the drama club and Basco combined will hopefully provide safe, new seats for everyone. “The drama students are anxious to see their fundraising efforts go towards a good use,” said Paul Mahoney, drama club adviser.

But coming up with the money for the replacement of the seats is not the financial problem. In order to get Basco to replace the seats we must pay them as well. That is where our school funds fall short.

Collins stated that the drama program is a huge part of our curriculum and if there were enough funds we would get new seats. He believes that the Performing Arts Center is functioning well and new seats are more of a comfort issue than a safety issue.