A rendering of the proposed $9 million, 750-seat multi-purpose auditorium for Marietta High School.
Photo special to the MDJ
Photo special to the MDJ
There are other theaters in the area, such as the Cobb Civic Center, Theatre in the Square, Strand Theatre and Mt. Paran Christian School’s theater, but Earl Reece, the Strand’s executive director, said they are insufficient for what the high school needs.
“We only have one Saturday open between now and the end of August, and Theatre in the Square, they end one show and begin another show, so the availability is not there,” Reece said.
There is also the size factor.
“Our stage would not even accommodate the band for a band concert, and the way their arts program is growing,” Reece said. “There’s just not space to accommodate a full band or a full production.”
The Civic Center has a nice feature that allows for sets and scenery drops to be raised and lowered, Reece said.
“That’s a plus, but they’re booked so far in advance, and then seating capacity for us is 531, seating capacity at the Civic Center is 600, capacity at Theatre in the Square is mid 200s. So it would be a scheduling situation. It would be a problem of space as far as what’s on stage and what’s in the audience that would make it just not work at all,” he said.
The only other venue in the area Reece said he could think of is Mt. Paran Christian School’s 577-theater, “and it would be slammed as well.”
Reece compares a stage to a laboratory where students can perfect their skills.
“It would be like a science class not having a lab or an athletic team not having anywhere to pursue what they love to do, and statistics have proven, and I look at the scholarships schools in Cobb County are getting in the arts now, and it’s pretty astronomical, and it would just let that program grow where it should grow,” he said.
Marietta High School principal Leigh Colburn said it’s important to note the proposal is not just to build a stage. The band has outgrown the band room, which would be turned into the school’s dance studio.
“We have almost 200 girls that are enrolled in our dance program, and right now we don’t have a class for that,” Colburn said. “Our chorus has outgrown our chorus room, and so we have two classrooms, and we’re knocking down the wall in between those to have a chorus classroom, and beside the auditorium in the same building will be a new band room.”
Colburn said residents may not realize that a school auditorium is not something that students simply use on weekends.
“It’s something that’s used during the day,” she said. “We teach band every period of the day. We teach dance every period of the day and chorus, so it’s also our classroom space and our drama classes will work in there.”
Another use is as a meeting place for students and faculty.
“If I want to have a class meeting with my ninth grade, I’m not going to take them over to Mount Paran to do that,” Colburn said.
Marilynn Schafer, president of the high school’s PTSA, said her group voted in the fall to support the building.
“We do have some signs out, and we’re going to put some more out this week and some bumper stickers and probably calling people,” Schafer said.
The existing high school is not competitive with surrounding high schools because it lacks an auditorium, she said.
“There’s a small black-box theater, which is very small, and then there’s the gym,” Schafer said. “So if you want to see a play or hear the orchestra or the band, there’s really not a venue there to do that.”
There is also the factor of the system being an International Baccalaureate district, she said.
“The IB program has a big drama component to it, and it seems like if you’re really going to be serious about doing the IB program you ought to have all the pieces to make it work, and the auditorium is one of those,” Schafer said.
The system is counting on voters to approve a $7 million, five-year general obligation bond to pay for most of the building in the March 6 Presidential Preference Primary. The remaining $2 million cost would come from the system’s building fund.
The district proposed SPLOST III in 2008 to pay down its then-$40 million debt to about $400,000 by the end of 2013. However, the recession cut into tax collections, wiping out a $15.16 million line item for debt service. Consequently, the district will be left with an estimated $15.6 million in debt when SPLOST III expires on Dec. 31, 2013.
The city has two outstanding bond issuances on behalf of Marietta City Schools. One is a general obligation bond with a city debt service millage rate of 1.187 mills, with the current principal and interest outstanding on that bond, which matures June 30, at $1.4 million.
The second G.O. bond is being paid by SPLOST III proceeds with $26.7 million in principal and interest outstanding. That bond matures Feb. 1, 2019.
As for the proposed theater bond, the idea is to use SPLOST IV to pay for it were voters to extend the sales tax. If voters don’t approve the sales tax, the millage rate on 1.187 mills will not end June 30, but would continue until FY 2014. Residents would then see an annual property tax increase of about $11 on a $200,000 home from FY2015 to when the bond matures in FY2017, spokesman Thomas Algarin said.
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The auditorium would be available to all students and programs in the Marietta City Schools as well as community groups
It has wing and backstage space that is not available at MMS.
The MHS and MMS Bands are too big to even use the stage at MMS- MMS Bands even have to use their gym.
What other high school anywhere in our area has to transport their theatre, their choir, their band to another facility just to provide concerts and performances? NONE
The MHS Arts programs are flourishing- Hundreds of thousand of dollars in scholarship money just last year in the arts for graduating Seniors.
The Athletic Boosters are not paying for their stadiums- upkeep- yes they help- but so would all of the arts boosters help with upkeep, etc.
It is a good time to build- because costs are lower- why cant we quit being petty about the past and realize this is a good time to invest in our community for now and the future?
All of you act like this is going to costs each of you $9 Million- it is a mere few dollars a year for each Household to do something that should be done for a community that deserves it.
Most of you posting are probably not even Marietta Residents- you just hope as Cobb Residents you can try to keep Marietta from moving forward. You enjoy trying to keep the City of Marietta from moving forward so that this "competition" between Marietta and Cobb can continue.
Marietta is a city with respect for the Arts, Respect for Education, Respect for its community members, and Respect for others. Marietta will show that it has class and will vote Yes for this - because it is WHAT IS RIGHT!
Since when does building a theater justify raising taxes yet again in these economic times?
We are already having to pay off the high school bond referendum tax that was passed a decade ago. It's not been paid back yet so we are already paying more taxes for this bond and the interest on our debt... it never ends. I would never vote yes to another bond until the first one was paid back.
Marietta already has a SPLOST sales tax to build specific capital outlay projects along with other government taxes from all levels.
Plan ahead why don't you?
If you wonder why decisions are made on Board level contrary to what the "public" wants, this feeds into why that happens. When people automatically take a stand of "hell no" without actually vetting the project, of course the Board and the Administration is going to do what THEY THINK is best because the public isn't invested in the system, nor cares enough to actually find out the truth.
The comment below of "...in the 60's" is fairly ignorant. I went to MHS in the 80's and I can tell you it was outdated, worn, inadequate and in bad need of repair THEN. While it has value and use, and is a treasure in its own right, it certainly does not meet the needs of Marietta High School. My only beef is that the BOE has caved to the court of public opinion and reduced the seating capacity. If you say you need 900 - then you need 900. Take a position and defend it!
For those who say "use The Strand, use The Strand", you obviously don't have a clue either. The Strand, while being a non-profit, needs to generate income to support itself, and it's not going to make money on the schools system. Plus, why should kids and parents have to constantly traipse all over the city just to see a play, hear a concert, go to a meeting, etc...? Have you actually compared the seating at The Strand to the MMS Auditorium??? Have you compared the sound? Have you seen the lack of storage?
For those of you who say, "they went over budget on the school"! Well, I have to agree. They did go over budget. But just a reality check here....those board members AREN'T ON THE BOARD as a board anymore. You wanna whine - go whine at them. You wanna whine, go find THAT Superintendent. Get over it. Thank gosh for the veteran observer who has a memory past the end of his/her nose to remember the truth of what happened.
We all know that the MCS BOE doesn't always make sound and vetted decisions, (i.e., the new graduation requirement...ridiculous), however, this is one decision that is a move in the right direction. This auditorium is needed - and like yesterday - and at 900 seats - no less. If some of you nay-sayers are grant writers, step up and help find private funding and quitcherbitchin.
I will vote a big YES, and will encourage everyone I know to do the same.
Nobody else wants to fund this stupidity. Do it yourself.
What a waste of taxpayer money for something that hardly anybody makes a living at. The football booster club pays for stadiums. Where is the thespian booster club to pay for this theater?
If local parents think they have the next Angelina Jolie on their hands, please by all means pay to send your child to that arts school in Atlanta that actually does turn out a few people who make careers out of acting. Just don't force me to waste more of my money on your children's trivial pursuits.
Let's face it, the only thing most children learn from high school acting class is that they are gay. There is nothing wrong with them being gay, but can't they just find out when they get to college?
But, there is nothing like the truth to stir 'em up.
If this was such an urgent issue when the last SPLOST sales tax was passed why didn't they appropriate money for this project. OR Mabey this project just became urgent. In any case, use what you have.
During the most severe economic decline since the great depression, the School Board just like it's citizens needs to tighten it's belt and quit asking for more, more, more...
You need to operate on the budget your currently have and save for the extras like a theater.
Make these extras such as a theater a priority. SAVE and BUDGET the existing taxes and capital outlay budget you have for it! Lord knows, we are taxed by the locals, the state, and the feds for our schools. Use what you have.
The rest of us in the north metro will get to enjoy this facility at greatly discounted rates for years to come, thanks to you.
Following the above advice, I will be voting early and as often as I am allowed.
NO
I believe arts, band, etc are very important but a state of the art facility doesn't necessarily improve anything but egos.
What say you MHS principal and Marietta school board?
makes no sense, i know..
let the students create with what they have.
if i read the marietta high school website right, the combined average of our students' 2011 SAT scores is lower than combined national average 2011 SAT scores.
need for a theater makes the agenda??
If you want to be "competitive," an auditorium is the least of your worries. The district wastes money on frivolous expenditures and could trim lots of fat at the Central Office. My vote is now, and will always be, no.