R-5 Foundation raising money for performing arts center equipment

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Exterior view of the Ella Maxwell Center for the Performing Arts.

By Ralph Pokorny

Nevada Daily Mail

For most of the 20 years the Nevada R-5 Foundation has existed, it has been best known for the scholarships it has fostered for Nevada High School seniors seeking to further their education. However, that is not the only purpose of the foundation.

"Our main mission is to support and enhance the education programs of the district," Shirley Rainey, R-5 Foundation member, said.

Currently, the foundation is working on helping the R-5 district furnish needed equipment and amenities for the Ella Maxwell Center for the Performing Arts, which will be turned over to the district on Nov. 1, and is expected to be used for the performance of this year's school musical, "Pippin," in November.

Although the performing arts center, which R-5 School District voters approved in 2012, along with a multi-purpose building and technology upgrades, will be physically complete, the $5.9 million bond issue did not include money for a wide variety of equipment that is needed to make the arts center truly usable.

This is where the foundation, which is chartered as a 501 (c3) not-for-profit corporation, can play a role. Supporters of the district can make tax deductible donations to the foundation to help pay for the needed equipment. Donations can be ear-marked for specific things or go into the foundation's general fund.

According to foundation member Joy Hawks, not including the cost of a new piano, there is about $45,000 in additional items needed for the center for performing arts. Things like formal chairs for guest speakers, a formal podium, a projector and projector screen, new show choir risers, benches or chairs for the auditorium lobby, 120 Winger black Wingert Nota chairs and 130 Winger music stands, Winger conductor's podium, Winger conductor's stand, body microphones, headsets, even the trash cans.

The grand piano, which has never had a proper storage facility and is showing its age, needs to be replaced, but is not included in the $45,000.

The new performing arts center includes a climate controlled storage area for a piano, which will help prolong the life of a new one. The existing piano would be used for practice sessions.

There are several ways in which supporters can make donations.

The foundation is currently holding a seat-naming campaign where, for a $100 donation, there will be an engraved name plate attached to one of the 820 nicely upholstered seats in the auditorium.

Ray's Trophy will be making the engraved name plates for the seats, Rainey said.

And there are other naming opportunities, she said, adding that there are five rooms in the performing arts center and an outdoor plaza area, all of which can be named for a benefactor.

This fundraising effort by the R-5 Foundation will help the district pay for the needed enhancements without drawing down its reserves to pay for them, Rainey said.

"To the extent the community can help, it will be wonderful. It'll be magnificent," foundation member Nora Quitno said.

Although the Ella Maxwell Center for the Performing Arts will provide a state-of-the-art facility for the Nevada School District, it is not just for the district. It is for the entire community, Rainey said.

For example, The Community Council on the Performing Arts Community Choir will present its Christmas Concert of traditional Christmas music in the performing arts center, Dec. 6-8.

And if you do not like the current color of the performing arts center, weather permitting, painters are scheduled to begin re-painting the facility gray with red stripping, similar to the new multi-purpose building.

Comments

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"And if you do not like the current color of the performing arts center, weather permitting, painters are scheduled to begin re-painting the facility gray with red stripping, similar to the new multi-purpose building."

I as a taxpayer would like to know the following:

1. why was there a project shortfall with regards to the sound system and other needs? who is responsible for forgetting that little detail?

2. How many computers could $45,000 buy (piano purchase price)? Or a new football pressbox ?...or improvements to the Logan Field home stands?....or a new football scoreboard? Or Haircuts for the superintendent at Andy's West Side Barber Shop? At $2.25 per hair cut that would by 20,000 haircuts... I'd be all for that more so than a piano.

3. Who is responsible for the original yellow paint job that had to be redone. dont try to sell the yellow as a primer coat. Anybody who has watched the building go up knows that the primer coat was white.

I am left scratching my head. I was fooled along with many others on trusting that oversight and good stewardship were a given by those in elected and leadership positions. Evidently it was not a priority.

Sad.

-- Posted by Big Paulie on Wed, Oct 23, 2013, at 9:06 PM
yeah

-- Posted by billy@perky.com on Wed, Oct 23, 2013, at 9:10 PM
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT FILLING THE BUILDING WITH THE NECESSARY THINGS TO MAKE IT FUNCTION WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET. IT SEEMS LIKE SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE TO OVERSEE THIS DID NOT DO THEIR JOBS CORRECTLY. THE COMMUNITY ALREADY VOTED THIS IN ALONG WITH SEVERAL DONATIONS ALREADY. BUT PLEASE KEEP GIVING US MORE MONEY...AS IT SEEMS WE DID SUCH A "GREAT JOB" OF BUDGETING, I MEAN, SPENDING THE MONEY ALREADY DONATED.

-- Posted by BORN&RAISEDNEVADAMO on Thu, Oct 24, 2013, at 9:10 AM
My question would be is it not some type of conflict of interest for not 1 but 2 school board members to be on the foundation committee. I don't known how many members that committee has but if you have 2 school board members and Mrs. Rainey, who is a school employee, on a 5 member committee it sounds little fishy. It appears possible that the 2 board members said don't worry about the furnishings, the foundation has money, we will just have them fund the furnishings. If the foundation has the money to help that is great, but, in my opinion, not just the foundation but any committee who's total funds come back to the school or the students, should not have voting members which are also on the school board.

-- Posted by ccmom on Thu, Oct 24, 2013, at 12:00 PM
JB Books will be appearing at the new Nevada Performing Arts Center this Sunday at 2 PM to give a lecture on business ethics. I encourage everyone to attend. Free haircuts and hot dogs will be available.

-- Posted by billy@perky.com on Thu, Oct 24, 2013, at 2:48 PM
I agree with ccmom, that was my first question after reading this article, also with JB Books, $45,000 could fund more items used by all students rather than the Arts classes.

-- Posted by callijo on Fri, Oct 25, 2013, at 9:06 AM
Improvements and additions to a school's infastructure are necessary capital expenditures IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH!! I am tired of seeing 7-0 votes from the school board for everything Stephens wants or suggests. I also question the logic behind adding more buildings when they don't take care of existing structures. The R-5 buildings and grounds used to be the best kept properties in the city...look at them now...the grass is half-*** mowed, trees aren't trimmed, weeds are overtaking the existing landscaping, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots. Intentional school property neglect usually is a prelude to asking for a new building...probably another poorly located and ill-conceived elementary complex.

Apparently, this superintendent doesn't like opposition. I hope the school board gets rid of him before he bankrupts the district or bullys anymore excellent teachers out of the district. If they renew his contract, we should all be lobbying for new school board members!

-- Posted by mizzou82 on Fri, Oct 25, 2013, at 11:14 AM

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