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Parents, students and community urge board to keep Elk River Little Theater; student performances highlighted at meeting
Summary
Dozens of speakers and student theater representatives addressed the ISD 728 board April 14, urging preservation of the Little Theater at Elk River High School and describing the role theater plays for students. Petition and letters were submitted; students described recent awards and upcoming shows.
Dozens of community members, students and theater staff used the public‑comment and recognition portions of ISD 728’s April 14 meeting to urge the school board to preserve the Little Theater at Elk River High School and to describe how performing arts programs benefit students.
Several speakers said the Little Theater has served as a second home for generations of participants and asked the board not to remove or repurpose the space. Nicole Brandjordan and other speakers described letters from former and current participants and said they submitted a petition of more than 600 signatures supporting the theater’s retention and modest repairs rather than closure.
A number of speakers highlighted personal outcomes tied to theater participation. One caller read a letter from a parent who said theater helped a shy child find confidence and later succeed in higher education. Another advocate, Eileen Anderson, recounted the theater’s community history and fundraising efforts dating to the venue’s founding and cited prior city partnerships that helped maintain theater spaces; she said community groups stand ready to raise funds for needed improvements.
Student representatives from Zimmerman High School and Elk River High School described current and upcoming productions, recent competitions and awards, and the educational value of technical, scenic, costume and performance roles. Jay Carlson and other Zimmerman students gave a short presentation about their spring production and the ways theater engages students in leadership, design and technical trades; Christina Hess, ISD 728’s auditorium manager, summarized districtwide theatrical programming and invited the community to performances in April and May.
What supporters asked the board to do
Speakers requested: a) retain the Little Theater as a performance space; b) allow community fundraising for improvements (new seating, maintenance) rather than removing theater use; and c) include the Little Theater and performing‑arts stakeholders in any facility‑use discussions going forward.
What the board and staff said
Superintendent Olmos acknowledged the comments and introduced theater students who gave the public presentation. Board members thanked speakers for their testimony and said the district would continue to evaluate facilities and hear community input as part of broader planning.
No formal vote on the Little Theater was held at the April 14 meeting. Residents who submitted petitions and letters said they will continue to follow the facilities process and offer volunteer fundraising and grant writing to support repairs and upgrades.
