New Hornet Theater director outlines season, urges junior‑high auditorium renovation

Jake Hood, the district’s newly introduced Hornet Theater director and auditorium manager, used the board meeting to outline a multi‑show season and to press the case for renovating the junior‑high auditorium so both junior‑high and high‑school programs can use it.

Hood told the board the program completed The Great Pandemonium and is preparing Tell‑Tale Heart (junior high, January) and Gathering Blue (high school, February), and that the department has implemented new technologies in the high‑school auditorium, including an IMAX studio station and a live‑stream system.

Asked whether the junior‑high auditorium would be used after renovation, Hood said the program would “absolutely” use the space; he said a partial renovation that refaces the interior, updates the stage floor, and installs a new sound system, lighting and seating plus core technology would be sufficient to make the space functional for teaching and performances. He also described plans to train student technicians to operate auditorium systems without constant staff intervention.

District staff said Huckabee‑led design meetings (staff, students and community members) are in progress and a community meeting is planned to collect broader input. Staff warned that early ballot language can appear as a tax increase even when it is not, and noted legal restrictions on advocacy once an election is formally called (Feb. 9). Board members discussed audience capacity concerns for joint choir events and the logistical benefits of having two functional auditoriums.

What’s next: staff will continue Huckabee‑led community design sessions and return to the board with scope, cost estimates and recommended next steps before any ballot question is finalized.