A comparison of area schools' facilities

School

Enrollment

Fitness Center

Auditorium

Paynesville

K-12: 1,303
9-12: 453
Current-672 sq. ft.
In 2 rooms-
free wghts & Univ.
Currently there are no auditoriums in the community. The proposal features a 499-seat auditorium with tiered seating. The stage will be 2,500 sq. ft. with sound and lighting systems controlled at a station on the auditorium floor.

ACGC

K-12: 1,008
9-12: 543
800 sq. ft.
Open to students
Open to public, fee
The Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District built a 612-seat auditorium in 1997 when they built their new high school. The auditorium cost $1,300,000, and the total project cost $15,885,000.

Albany

K-12: 1,638
9-12: 632
1500-1600 sq. ft.
Open to students
Open to public
through Comm. Ed.
Albany has had an auditorium since 1969, when a 320-seat theater was built with the senior high school. The total project cost was $3 million.

BBE

K-12: 870
9-12: 288
900 sq. ft.
Open to students
Open periodically
to public, fee
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa has no auditorium and uses its gymnasium and commons area for athletic events, concerts, and plays. At a cost of $1,715,000, it would have tiered seating and modern stage lighting and sound equipment for dramatic and musical performances. The auditorium is contingent on the other two projects. First voters would need to approve the remodeling, then the gymnasium addition, and finally the auditorium, otherwise it will not be built.

EV-W

K-12: 859
9-12: 308
1,125 sq. ft.
Used by phy ed classes
and athletes
Open to public 2 nites
per week, free
Currently, the Eden Valley-Watkins schools do not have an auditorium, but the district is proposing a three-part bond referendum this fall. The third part would be for the construction of a 275-seat auditorium. At a cost of $1,715,000, it would have tiered seating and modern stage lighting and sound equipment for dramatic and musical performances. The auditorium is contingent on the other two projects. sFirst voters would need to approve the remodeling, then the gymnasium addition, and finally the auditorium, otherwise it will not be built.

Melrose

K-12: 1,575
9-12: 930
1,000 sq. ft.
Open to public
3 nights per week, fee
The Melrose School District added a 499-seat auditorium in 1994 when it built a new elementary school and did other remodeling work. This facility was toured by the Paynesville Facility Study Task force, and its tiered seating served as a model for the design of the local proposal. The auditorium at Melrose cost $1,800,000 out of a total project of $10,485,000.

NL-S

K-12: 1, 813
9-12: 601
Open only to students Presently, the New London-Spicer schools do not have an auditorium. The Little Theater, in downtown New London, is used for community and school drama performances. The theater was owned originally by a nonprofit group and now is owned by the city. School choir concerts have been held on occasion at a local church.

Rocori

K-12: 2,305
9-12: 851
1,818 sq. ft.
Three rooms,
Open to students.
Comm. Ed. open to public
in summer, fee
Rocori built a 500-seat facility in the 1979-80 school year. It took $1 million to build, which was saved in their fund balance. After they built their high school in 1969, the district continued to levy the maximum amount and ten years later had enough to add the auditorium.