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Board names Estancia Performing Arts Center; approves dual honor for Van Holt and Moranian
Summary
After extended public comment, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board voted 6-0 to name the new Estancia High School performing-arts complex the Estancia Performing Arts Center — the Barbara Van Holt Theater with the Pauline Moranian Mainstage; trustees left a black-box space available for future naming.
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education on June 24 approved the naming of Estancia High School’s new performing-arts complex, adopting a substitute motion to designate the building the Estancia Performing Arts Center, with the main house named the Barbara Van Holt Theater and the principal stage named the Pauline Moranian Mainstage.
Why this matters: The decision responds to extensive alumni, community and student testimony that described decades of classroom mentorship and program-building at Estancia. Board policy 73-10 guided the ad hoc naming committee’s process and survey that preceded the recommendation.
What happened: Dozens of community members — alumni, parents, current students and Estancia drama staff — urged the board to honor both longtime directors. Joe Mundy, an Estancia alumnus, said the program shaped “my life” and urged the board to “do the right thing tonight” and “honor both.” Estancia drama teacher Amber Reyes described the depth of the program’s legacy and the preference among students and the program community to recognize both women at opening.
District staff described the naming process. In response, Trustee Ersoylu moved a substitute motion to name the building the Estancia Performing Arts Center — the Barbara Van Holt Theater and the Pauline Moranian Mainstage — with a suggestion that a separate black-box space could be named for Ms. Reyes; Trustee Crane seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote of 6-0.
Board response and next steps: Trustees thanked community members and graduates for their participation and noted the naming will be reflected in district materials and the building plaque at opening. The board did not specify a timeline for the black-box naming; trustees suggested it could be addressed later.
Quotes: “Let’s do the right thing tonight, please, and name both properly,” said Joe Mundy, who identified himself as an Estancia alumnus and community volunteer. “This theater should give students the chance to be a part of something far greater than they'd ever imagined,” said Amber Reyes, the current Estancia drama teacher.
Details and vote: The motion to adopt the amended naming carried by roll-call vote (Trustees Weigand, Ersoylu, Murphy, Pearson, Anderson and Crane: yes 6, no 0). The naming followed the district’s community-survey and ad hoc committee review under board policy 73-10.
What the district will publish: Staff said district materials will reflect the new names at the time of facility opening and that plaque and program details will be prepared.
