On June 5, 2008, the Town of Westlake hosted a groundbreaking celebration for Westlake Academy’s new Arts and Sciences Center. The new facility is needed to adequately provide for the school’s International Baccalaureate curriculum at the Diploma level (grades 11 and 12). The performing arts portion of the facility will serve both Westlake Academy students and the Westlake community as a whole.
Earlier this year, the Westlake Town Council approved a plan to complete the project in phases, based on funds available. The Building Committee working on this project has identified two phases and has obtained cost estimates for each phase:
Phase I: Arts & Sciences Center Building Three fully-equipped science labs The foundation for the arts portion of the building Cost = $4.7 million
Phase II: Arts & Sciences Center Building Completion of Sam Lee Black Box Theater Arts classrooms Kiln room Cost = $1.7 million
Of the $6.4 million total cost of the building, $2.5 million will be covered by the proceeds of the general obligation bonds voters approved last November which were recently issued at the favorable interest rate of 3.92%. All other costs must be funded privately. As of this writing, the Town is still approximately $800,000 shy of the amount necessary to complete Phase I and is facing a very real September 30 deadline to raise those funds if it is to meet the targeted opening date of August 2009.
Speaking on behalf of the Westlake Academy Foundation, the instrumentality of the Town charged with raising the private dollars needed for this project, incoming Board Chair Leah Rennhack expressed both gratitude and optimism, but recognized that this project was far from complete.
“The parents of our Westlake Academy students, 40% of whom live in Westlake, have done an amazing job of supporting the Academy financially. In 2007 alone, they gave $410,000 to the Blacksmith Apprentice annual operating fund and $185,600 for the Gallery Night annual fundraiser. With respect to the Arts and Sciences project, they have stepped up again with a total commitment to date of approximately $700,000. It is clear to me, however, that the balance of the money for this project needs to come from our greater Westlake community.”
Mrs. Rennhack observed that the Academy affects everyone who lives in or owns property in Westlake, regardless of whether they have children who attend the school. She concluded by noting "A gift to the Arts and Sciences Building project is an excellent vehicle through which our citizen’s can invest in the Town and our fast growing reputation as a premier "knowledge based community!"
The Town is committed to continue to work closely with the Foundation to raise the remaining funds necessary to complete the project in its entirety.
