Superintendent Fred Perez told the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District board the district has advanced planning for a new performing arts center at Veterans Memorial Academy and expects to present renderings to the public next month.

Perez said district architects and the builder have met and that fine-arts and theater directors have participated in preliminary planning. "We have a rough draft of what it might look like — a 30,000 square foot building, and we're looking at a 900 to a thousand seating," Perez said. He added the district expects to present renderings to the public in about a month and that the site will be Veterans Memorial Academy, with a potential groundbreaking in December.

Perez said a set committee and fine-arts staff will offer input on final design before the district makes a public presentation. The board did not vote to authorize funding or begin construction at the meeting; Perez described the update as a planning status report and said further public input would be sought before construction moves forward.

District staff will return with final renderings and additional budget and schedule details for board review.