Carson High School could get its own performing arts center " along with an expansion of other arts and vocational programs " under a plan being discussed at tonight's school board meeting.
The Career Arts and Education committee originally was formed two years ago to explore curriculum changes and additions at the high school.
"We recognized the fact that we have a reasonably high dropout rate," said Jim Lemaire, the school board member representative to the committee. "It's been shown that when kids have a number of vo-tech curriculum to choose from, there's a much lower dropout rate. We knew the education we offered had to resonate with their experience."
He said Carson City is not large enough to sustain a standalone vocational high school. Rather, the committee looked at ways to expand the arts and vocational programs at the existing high school.
The committee's plan would include a performing arts center that would be built on the grassy area in front of the school.
Depending on the size, ranging from 700 to 3,000 seats, it could cost anywhere from $20 million to $30 million, Lemaire said.
Band, choir and drama students would be moved from the high school into the new center, which also could be used for other community events in a potential partnership with the city and businesses.
"I think it's a really great opportunity for the community, for the city and for the kids," Lemaire said.
And it solves a long-standing problem for the drama department. Committee chairman Chet Alexander likened the high school's current venue, the Black Box Theater, to a storage room.
The additional space in the high school then would be used to expand and add other programs.
For instance, the nationally recognized culinary arts program, run by Penny Reynolds, always has more students interested in taking classes than it can support. Under this plan, that program would be expanded, adding an additional instructor.
"It's a great program, but if Penny leaves, it will die," Lemaire said.
The "dirty" vocational programs, such as auto body and welding, would be moved to the bus barn behind the school. The buses would then be moved to the city's corporate yard under a joint-use agreement.
Alexander said creative architecture, like that used to remodel Carson Middle School, would use the space to ease overcrowding and other issues at the school, especially the school's common space known as Senator Square.
"That place is just looking for a problem," Alexander said.
In addition to the programs already offered at the high school, more would be added, Lemaire said.
The committee is not sure what programs will be added, but it is considering patient and elderly care as well as emergency response classes.
"We'll consider a combination of what the community needs, what the kids are interested in and what we can find instructors for," Lemaire said.
The committee will present its findings to the board tonight to determine whether to continue pursuing the plan. The end result would be to seek a bond issue in the November 2010 election.
Among the arguments for the bond are that it will be tax neutral and could stimulate the local economy.
"And it will create a better learning environment for the kids " that's the short sell," Alexander said.
- Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.
WHAT: Carson City School Board meeting
WHERE: Carson City Community Center, Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.
WHEN: 7 tonight
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