In May, the Center Moriches School District pitched a proposition to voters to pass a $1.2 million capital expenditure to renovate the school’s auditorium, which is located at the high school on Frowein Road but is used by all three schools in the district.
Proposition 2 passed with 77% of the vote, allowing the district to take on necessary renovations to the auditorium that serves as not only the district’s performance, cultural, and assembly center, but also as a meeting space for the Center Moriches community.
The project is also 78% reimbursable with State aid over the next fifteen years.
Center Moriches Superintendent Dr. Ricardo Soto told The Messenger in May before the vote that the auditorium was in “disrepair.” According to Dr. Soto, the seats were ripped and the cushions were in subpar condition, stage curtains and the rigging had to be replaced, the stage was scratched and weathered after years of use, and the sound and lighting systems had to be brought up-to-date.
The renovations called for $200,000 for seat replacements, $133,000 for flooring – including carpet, epoxy, and the stage – $40,000 for stage curtains, $485,000 for lighting, sound, and painting, almost $13,000 for a third-party review of the construction, and $36,500 for architect fees.
Construction began in October and was finalized just last week, allowing for the formal ribbon-cutting to commence on Monday evening.
“Auditoriums are what brings schools and all classes and grades together, from the bands, to chorus, to instruction,” said Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow). “Your school board is doing a great job in recognizing that this needed to be rehabilitated because it is such a beautiful school that is doing wonderful things.”
Dr. Soto called the ribbon-cutting a moment of “celebration, immense pride, and profound gratitude.”
“For generations, this auditorium has stood as a cornerstone of our district. It is the place where our students took their first bows, accepted their first moving-up certificates, and where countless memories were made,” said Soto. “However, it was time for that space to evolve to match the incredible talent and ambition of our students and teachers. This renovation is not just about new seats, better lighting, or new curtains. It is about ensuring that our students and our drama club, music programs, and all future presenters have a space that is worthy of their creativity, hard work, and aspirations.”
Soto added that a “project of this scale is never the work of one person,” but a “testament to the power of our collective efforts”, thanking the voters and taxpayers of the district who approved Proposition 2 back in May.
“A young musician will hear their notes amplified with perfect acoustics. A student will feel pride as they walk across the stage to accept their certificates, and every community member attending an event will experience comfort and accessibility,” said Soto, adding his thanks to the district staff for managing the logistics and the project to its end. “This auditorium is the physical embodiment of our community’s belief that education extends far beyond the classroom. Today, we are opening the door to limitless possibilities. To our students, the stage is yours. I challenge you to fill this space with your voices, your music, your ideas, and your leadership. Let this magnificent auditorium be a catalyst for your greatest achievements. Let us all commit to utilizing this revitalized space to its fullest potential, enriching the lives of everyone in the Center Moriches community.”
The 613-seat auditorium now boasts ADA-compliant seating, and the name of the space is dedicated to Charles G. Osborne, a music teacher at the school many years ago, according to Dr. Soto.
