Bensalem board rescinds outside rental after drama-club set conflict
Loading...
Summary
The Bensalem Township School Board voted to rescind a Jan. 24–25 auditorium rental by Kaye’s Act 2 after staff and board members said the dance studio’s event conflicted with the high-school drama club’s immovable set; the board directed staff to offer alternate dates and possible concessions.
The Bensalem Township School Board voted to rescind an external auditorium reservation for Jan. 24–25 after learning the rental would conflict with the high-school drama club’s set for its winter musical.
Board members said the musical’s set includes large, assembled platforms that drama volunteers said cannot be safely disassembled and reassembled between productions. Facilities staff told the board the rental had been initially denied, then allowed only if the renter paid for teardown and reassembly; board members said that arrangement would not be feasible for this set and risked disrupting student rehearsals.
Miss Hart moved to rescind the reservation for Kaye’s (Kaye’s Act 2), and the motion was seconded and approved. Board members said they would direct facilities to work with the renter to propose alternate dates and to consider discounts or fee adjustments to cover any additional work.
Board members discussed policy and calendar practices that contributed to the confusion, saying recent administrative changes shifted some rental approvals away from board review. Several members said they were surprised to learn the rental had been approved without prior committee review and called for clearer procedures to avoid similar conflicts.
The rescission was framed by the board as a measure to protect student rehearsal time and safety: one member cited concern about students climbing on set pieces that are 12 feet high and stated that structural integrity and liability were important considerations. Facilities staff said the district retains the right to cancel rentals when needed for school purposes, and that staff would notify the renter promptly and attempt to offer alternatives.
The board did not provide a counted roll-call vote for the rescission in the record; the chair stated the motion carried. The district did not publish the renter’s advertising or ticketing status in the meeting record; board members acknowledged the renter might have already advertised the recital dates and said staff should work to minimize disruption where possible.
Next step: facilities staff were directed to contact Kaye’s to offer alternate dates and concessions and to report back to the board with options.
