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Superintendent reports performing arts center and conference center usage and finances; administration projects growth but notes operating gap
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Moore reported utilization, revenue and operating costs for the new Richland 2 Performing Arts Center (PAC) and the district's conference center. The PAC served students and community members and generated rental revenue; administrators said operating costs exceeded revenue during the short reporting period but projected growth.
Superintendent Dr. Craig Moore presented a multi-part update on the Richland 2 Performing Arts Center (PAC) and the Richland 2 Conference Center, reporting utilization, revenue figures and operating costs as the district seeks a sustainable business model for both facilities.
Dr. Moore said the Richland 2 PAC broke ground on Sept. 27, 2022, had a building dedication on Nov. 14, 2024, and a grand opening on Dec. 3, 2024. Between the grand opening and the close of the fiscal year in June 2025, the PAC hosted 89 events and served more than 4,600 students while generating rental revenue reported in the presentation as $1,114,987 (presenter formatting in the slide varied). The superintendent said the PAC has served more than 15,000 community members since opening and that the district was operating the PAC at roughly 79% capacity for FY 2025–26 with multiple events scheduled per day.
Dr. Moore reported operating costs for the PAC for the July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025 period and described startup expenditures for supplies, equipment and staffing; presentation formatting produced a number that was unclear in the transcript. Administration projected an operating cost of about $575,000 for FY 2025–26 and said that projection left a gap the presenter described (the slides referenced a projected gap figure). The superintendent emphasized that the PAC had only been open part of the fiscal year and that utilization and revenue were increasing.
For the Richland 2 Conference Center, Dr. Moore reported that the center has been in service for nine years, typically hosting 200–400 events annually, and that pricing adjustments (including a reduction in the previous broad discounting approach) are intended to create a more sustainable model. Administration said discounts were narrowed as of July 1, 2025, with new pricing designed to be competitive; the district expects increased advertising and bundle packages to expand bookings. Dr. Moore also noted constraints on rental days because the district does not rent on Tuesdays that coincide with board meetings.
The presentation also included a budget update and noted that revenue and expense tracking practices changed in FY26 (for example, spreading insurance premiums and software license expenses monthly rather than recording them all up front), which affected year-over-year charts. Dr. Moore closed by asking trustees to send follow-up questions to administration if anything was missed during the presentation.
