Marion High Teachers: District Should Consider Building New Auditorium

 English teacher Kevin Wake told the Marion Independent Board of Education in a public forum on Monday night that the current auditorium is not enough.

He said the school needs a new auditorium to accommodate the growing class size.

The co-manager for the auditorium said the current building is showing signs of aging. The light board has issues, one curtain is separating, the risers are getting unsafe, and, most importantly, there's simply not enough space. 

Wake said on school honors night, the auditorium didn't have enough seats to accommodate the attendees, an entry line that stretched into the school's hallway.

"It's a limited space for a district of our size," he said.

No cost estimates were provided for rebuilding or renovating, during the meeting.

Chad Allard, a music teacher from Marion High School and co-manager of the auditorium, urged the Marion Independent Board of Education to consider building a new auditorium instead of refinishing the current building.

Wake suggested a plan similar to another high school he's visited during his time as speech coach. That school built a "cafetorium," which is a multipurpose room that functions as a cafeteria, gymnasium and a stage. 

Because the auditorium was not on last night's school board agenda, no action was taken on it.