Morgantown High Foundation asks Monongalia board for $2.2 million match to restore auditorium
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Summary
The Morgantown High School Foundation updated the board on a Stage of Excellence campaign to renovate the school auditorium, reporting roughly $3.99 million raised toward a $4.4 million budget and requesting the board match at least $2.2 million to reach the project goal in 2026.
Foundation members and students addressed the board Oct. 28 seeking a county-school match for an auditorium renovation at Morgantown High School.
Foundation representatives described the "Stage of Excellence" campaign and said the restored auditorium would serve the high school and the broader community. Foundation materials presented at the meeting put the project budget at $4.4 million and requested a board match of at least $2.2 million (half the budget). The foundation reported total fundraising of about $3,986,314 and said that with a $2.2 million district match the project would be roughly $150,000 short of being fully funded for work in 2026.
Student stage manager Zoe Christopher described how the lack of a home auditorium limits hands‑on technical theater experience: "We don't have a home of our own... we are behind most schools because we don't have facilities and we don't have anywhere we can go to access facilities," she said. Junior and FFA president Paige Veil and music staff emphasized the curriculum and community benefits: having a usable auditorium would provide consistent technical training for students and reduce costly rental fees for outside venues.
Foundation leaders outlined recent fundraising steps including a "100 seats in 100 days" campaign, targeted alumni outreach, grant applications (state development grant, Hope Gas, Mon Power), and targeted donor solicitations. The foundation asked the board to commit to match up to $2.2 million; foundation representatives said several grant requests remain pending and that additional small donor sales (seats, rows) are still active.
Board members asked questions but did not take a formal vote on the request during the meeting. The foundation reiterated the project would benefit not just Morgantown High but other community arts groups that currently rent off-site facilities.
Why it matters: Restoring the auditorium would affect arts education, facility access for community events and the district's capital plan. The request for a $2.2 million match is a material ask that would be incorporated into bonding/levy and budgeting decisions if the board chooses to proceed.
