Board Approves $93,750 First-Year Upgrade to Hough Planetarium; Some Directors Say Cost Should Wait Given Budget Deficit

The Centennial School District board approved a first-year upgrade and operational stipend for the Hough Planetarium at William Tennant High School on Tuesday, voting 7–2 to award Kasim Inc. a contract not to exceed $93,750 for the initial upgrade and staffing stipend.

Supporters said the upgrade would allow the district to bring the planetarium back into active instructional use, align science instruction with new standards and generate future outreach and revenue opportunities. “This would get it up and running for our students internally,” said a district presenter, laying out a multiyear plan that would pursue grants, donations and community partnerships to fund later, costlier projector upgrades.

Several board members questioned whether the expenditure was appropriate while the general fund shows a multi‑million-dollar deficit and reserves are being drawn down. Board member Ginhart urged the board to delay nonessential spending until grant and donation options were exhausted. “At a time when our budget is in the condition that it’s in…$93,000 to get it up and running seems like an awful lot of money,” Ginhart said.

District staff replied that the $93,750 figure is a year‑one cost for new software, a computer workstation and a stipend to operate the system; a full projector upgrade would cost substantially more in year two or three and would be pursued only if external funding is obtained. Presenters pointed to potential NASA and foundation grants and to a plan for the district to host regional school visits and community events as revenue sources over time.

The final vote was 7 in favor, 2 opposed. The motion (5.2 e) specified district cost not to exceed $93,750 to Kasim Inc. to upgrade software/hardware and provide a stipend for planetarium operations. The board recorded no amendments to the motion.