Resident: Is a $14 Million Chatham Middle School Theater Reasonable?

The following letter was submitted to Chatham Patch by a Borough resident. The letter follows two other submissions discussing a proposal to spend $14 million to build a new 975-seat theater at Chatham Middle School. Read the first letter here, and the second letter here. Another resident also submitted a letter this week discussing the $22 million bond referendum at large. Click here to read that letter.

To the Editor:

I am proud of Chatham schools, and I’ve always supported them, but I have real concerns about the current proposal for construction, for several reasons.

First, are we reasonably sure that enrollment will stay at the present level? Past demographic assumptions have not always been accurate. We regionalized our schools, and sold some school buildings, because people thought that enrollment would continue to decrease.

No one apparently realized that in the Chathams, especially in the Borough, many residents were older, and that before long they would sell their houses to young couples.

>>Related: Chatham Parent: Let the Voters Decide How the $22 Million Referendum Should Be Spent

The assumption that few couples with children would be able to afford Chatham proved false, and we have been adding on to our schools ever since. Now anecdotal evidence suggests that the trend may turn. In a few years, will we have excess capacity?

Second, is building a new, stand-alone theater the best use of our funds? A spacious arts center is a wonderful thing for a college – the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts is a great benefit to Drew University. But in the Chathams, we are talking about a public school, not a university. Is this reasonable? Perfection in arts facilities can, indeed, be an advantage, but the need to make the best of things can also inspire creativity!

Finally, the School Board believes that this is a good time to build because interest rates are very low. I can assure them that low interest rates are not always beneficial to everyone. Those of us who rely on interest income for part or much of our income have not been feeling very comfortable for some time. Please consider us!

Sincerely,

Marcia Casais

Chatham Borough

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