LISBON

Lisbon High School is a small step closer to a new performing arts center.

The school committee voted 4-1 last week to advertise for an architect for the project.

The high school’s new gym has been open for a little more than two years, and no clear timeline has been set to replace the old gym with a performing arts center.

Lisbon Superintendent Richard Green said the only current cost would be to advertise for an architect. The architectural firm would then be hired at a later time to complete a structural review, preliminary design and cost analysis.

Once the initial planning phase is in place, the committee would be in a position to apply for funding through grants.

“I’m in favor of planning. That’s what got us the gym and the track,” said Chairperson Traci Austin. “In this area, grant dollars are generally there, more so than for athletic fields and equipment.”

“The thought is we could possibly get some grants,” said Green. “But we can’t apply for grants if we don’t get a scope of the work.”

The district has discussed a number of ideas for a new performing arts center, Green said, which has been a goal of the district for a while. Currently, the music and performing arts departments are located in the old gym.

With an old gym, he said, there are different options for transforming it to a performing arts center. For example, Green said, in place of permanent seating, roll-away seating may still be an option. Details like that, however, would be more clear once an architect takes a look at the project.

Green estimates initial planning could cost $10,000- $15,000; figures for the full project are unknown.

No more action on a potential project would move forward without the support of the school committee.

School Committee member Pete Reed was opposed to beginning planning at this time, voicing concern about the impact of adding a performing arts center would have on taxpayers. He also said the gym was needed for accreditation, while a performing arts center is not.

While Green acknowledged there is no money in a capital reserve fund to cover the cost of the project, he pointed out the only cost in the initial phase is for advertising for an architect. Other committee members stressed this is just a first step in the planning process, and that the complete cost would not be clear until an architect is hired.

With a lack of a timeline and no plans created, a potential impact to taxpayers is unclear.

“I don’t believe anyone is asking for the town or school committee to pay for this performing arts center,” said committee member Ross Cunningham.

A new performing arts center would provide opportunities for students and the community, Green said.

“It would be nice to have a venue for the community,” he said. “We currently have a lot of organizations that rent outside of town.”

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