Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue informed the Board of Education at its meeting on May 1 of the district's plan to allow the Newtown High School auditorium to be rented out to NewArts for its summer theater production of the Disney musical Newsies.More information about NewArts and its summer production of Newsies is available on the organization's website, .newarts.org

The plan is a reversal of a February announcement that the newly renovated auditorium would be closed to renters this summer due to allowing time for follow-up work in the space, and time for students to learn to use the facility.

Dr Rodrigue told the school board at the May 1 meeting that NHS students are sufficiently trained with the new equipment now, and plans to paint the floor are on hold or no longer in the works.

"We think the floor is fine," said Dr Rodrigue. "They definitely… fixed those areas that were most critical."

Dr Rodrigue said she was also recently approached by community members and NewArts about renting the space. NewArts, she added, had planned to stage the Disney musical Newsies at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. More than 100 students will be involved in the summer "theater camp" production.

"They were allowed to publicize it, got that out [to the public], and it fell through," Dr Rodrigue explained. "So they really came to us asking if there was anyway we could relook at [the auditorium rental], because they only really need it at the end of July and early August."

Dr Rodrigue said if NewArts decides to rent the auditorium, practices for the production would be held elsewhere.

"I wanted to propose that we move forward with allowing them to rent this year. We believe that we wouldn't be here or approaching this again if we thought that we needed that time for students, but we feel really confident... with our students," said Dr Rodrigue, adding that a district staff member will be overseeing use of the auditorium equipment.

According to discussion at the meeting, the rental fees for the auditorium are $250 per hour, with a minimum fee of $1,000 per day. NewArts would be renting over the minimum hours each day it uses the space. Money from the rental fees will go into a "custodial account," with the designation of being used for auditorium funds, according to district Business Director Ron Bienkowski.

While Dr Rodrigue does not require the board's approval to rent the space to NewArts, general consent was expressed.

Board Vice Chair Rebekah Harriman-Stites said she approves of allowing the space to be rented with the understanding that proper procedures are followed and district staff agree that it is an appropriate use of the auditorium.

"I look forward to seeing that be a successful program," said Board Chair Michelle Embree Ku, after she thanked Dr Rodrigue for the auditorium update.