MONROE — School board members agreed to raise the rental rates of the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center to ensure the facility no longer operates in the red after months of talks outlining what the costs should be to rent the space.
The change will allow the space to take in revenue for maintenance costs, something it had been falling short of in previous years. PAC Director Jennifer Bochar has presented options to the Monroe Board of Education in the past and explained how PAC falls greatly below other districts of its size in rental fees.
Adjustments were also prompted by aging equipment nearing the end of 20 year lifespans. PAC operates on a $5,000 annual budget. Its 2017-18 income was $5,101.
However, there are community entities which hold events without more than a small deposit while accruing thousands of dollars of costs for PAC.
One example Bochar provided was the use of PAC by the Monroe Arts Center, which pays a $100 deposit for each of its events held at the center. However, MAC generally accrues a $5,000 annual expense for PAC, based on estimates, from just over $6,000 in the 2015-16 school year to more than $4,700 in 2017-18.
Others include the Mat Rats Tournament Awards Presentation hosted by the Green County Family YMCA for no charge, but generally costs roughly $210 for PAC organizers, or the YMCA Youth Basketball Parent meetings held at no cost but at an estimated expense to the district of $90 each time. Another example was the 2016 YMCA State Gymnastics Tournament Awards presentation that spanned two days. Bochar said the group paid $360, but the estimated actual cost was over $4,700.
The Monroe Clinic Foundation hosts “PARTY in the PAC” at no cost, but has an estimated expense of $905.
The problem lies in arrangements between the district and these groups. Monroe Clinic Foundation may not pay a fee for the event, but it has supported PAC with grants for equipment purchases and lighting upgrades in recent years; over $1,300 in 2017 for new microphones and almost the exact amount again in 2018 for light fixture upgrades.
In a previous meeting, Director of Curriculum & Instruction Terri Montgomery said another unspecified agreement includes “significant” contributions by MAC, roughly $12,000 each year. The programs hosted by MAC span across each of the district’s elementary schools, Monroe Middle School and MHS and the organization even helps the district secure grant funding for programming.
District Administrator Rick Waski had suggested documenting all costs and paying them accordingly, rather than one side paying for something and the district covering the cost of something else and expecting the numbers to roughly even out.
In past discussions, Bochar has pointed out discrepancies in rental fees between Monroe and other districts. For example, the hourly rate for most groups using PAC was $45, while Adams-Friendship school district charge $200 for a maximum of two hours and $25 for each additional hour.
Rates approved Monday include $120 per hour for most organizations or groups. If the renter is a nonprofit, the group receives a 50% discount on the hourly fee. There will also be fees for personnel and equipment and space. A dressing room rental is $25 per day of use and the grand piano will be $50 per day. If the user requests tuning of the piano, it will cost an additional $100.
For personnel, the rates vary depending on the specialty. The house manager is a required fee of $30 per hour, as that person has to oversee all aspects of the operation. Bochar serves as the house manager. A sound and lighting technician, as needed, come at a fee of $20 per hour.
Custodians are also needed by renters. For work outside of the usual custodial hours between Monday and Friday, there is now a fee of $25 per hour. When they are required on a Saturday, which is overtime, the fee increases to $35 per hour. On Sundays and holidays, the fee goes up to $45 per hour.
The district has also instituted a long-term maintenance fee to help accrue revenue for the aging equipment and facility. There will be a $2 fee per each attendee of an event.
Board members approved of the fee changes 7-0. Amy Bazley and Dan Bartholf were absent.