Breaking Ground on a Ground Breaking New Building
Monte Vista Christian School begins the construction on the Don Price Performing Arts Building, which has been the school’s dream for over 60 years.
Last Wednesday, Monte Vista Christian School started construction on the Don Price Performing Arts Building. In less than two years, the new building is intended to fulfill the shared dream of the school’s community. The $10 million dollar theatre will be funded by donations and savings, and will showcase state-of-the-art technology.
Mrs. Matos, the director of fine arts at MVCS, explained that the theatre will feature advanced lighting, sound, rigging, curtains and stage, and will be large enough to fit 420 people.
According to Dr. Salerno, the new “black box theatre” will include two classrooms, and vocal and instrumental studios. The new facility will be a place to host chapel venues, performances, and classes.
MVCS has been receiving donations for decades specifically for the funding of a new building. Dr. Salerno goes on listening tours where he visits teachers, parents, and students what they want from the school and improvements they can make. The chapel is one of the most requested. Due to these listening tours, Dr. Salerno has also been able to provide better education and raise the staff’s salaries.
Construction has barricaded the two tennis courts, as well as our previous two portable classrooms. The classrooms will be moved into the downstairs Price Hall area and replace where administration currently is, while administration moves into the Price House, according to Dr. Salerno.
The system that MVCS has created is a spreadsheet showcasing where the money is distributed throughout the school. The administration has G-L areas that show how much money goes to one section. The raise in tuition was through a need that has shown throughout the parents, teachers, and some students that have wanted some change in the school, for example desks in classrooms and having a newer theater building to accommodate the theater program.
“Even with the increase in tuition in the last two years, the school is still below market value. Dr. Salerno is trying to keep the school at a low cost and provide the best education with the money the school receives." states Mr. Davis.
