The role of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center in USD 257 will be refined to meet students’ needs, Dr. Craig Neuenswander, superintendent of schools, told board members Monday evening.
In a report of a recent Bowlus Planning Committee meeting, he said use of the Bowlus Center may change as the district moves toward career clusters, in which students will concentrate more on specific disciplines, and “may look different than it has since 1964 — when the Bowlus opened — as programming is refined.”
Neuenswander said, “We want a state of the art program and a facility to fit.”
Among immediate concerns is updating the band and chorus rooms, now exclusive to high school students with relocation of middle school students to IMS.
Susan Raines, Bowlus director, said she was interested in “the best direction for the future” of the center.
In 2014, the Bowlus will celebrate it 40th anniversary, Raines noted, which will give opportunity for it to be designated as a historic building and make it eligible for associated grants.
Board members, meeting as Bowlus trustees, were told the building’s air-handling system was upgraded in the past year and outside doors were refurbished. More air-handling work is anticipated this year, “provided there are no emergencies,” Raines said. She pointed out the boiler is 47 years old and that long-term plans are to replace it with two energy-efficient units.
In review of the projects and general operations budgets, Raines said income during the 2009-10 year was $615,058.69, which exceeded expenses of $599,821.90 by $15,236.79.
Projected income and expenses for this year are $646,371.05, an increase of $31,312.36.
Of the increase, $20,000 is from Friends of the Bowlus to do repair work to heating and cooling coils, with the remainder, $11,312.36, coming from interest and dividends.
Raines said the additional budget money would meet projected increases for utilities, insurance, building repairs and unforeseen needs.
257 ponders changes for Bowlus
