Perpich Center asks Senate panel for $6M to fix main entrance, update restrooms; governor recommended $1.3M
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Summary
Perpich Center for Arts Education told the Senate Capital Investment Committee it needs $6,000,000 in asset-preservation funding to create a secure, accessible main entrance and bring restrooms into ADA compliance; the governor recommended $1,300,000 toward the request.
Allegra Smishek, executive director of the Perpich Center for Arts Education, told the Senate Capital Investment Committee on March 5 that Perpich is a statewide state agency and public high school serving Minnesota students and educators and is requesting $6,000,000 in asset preservation funding to address urgent building needs.
Smishek said Perpich runs statewide professional-development programming and a public arts high school and highlighted program reach: “Last year alone, our staff hosted 313 events serving nearly 2,000 educators and administrators across Minnesota,” and the agency worked with districts across all 67 senate districts. She said Perpich’s residential program remains essential for students from Greater Minnesota who lack local arts high-school options.
The funding request focuses on two urgent capital needs: creating a secure, accessible main entrance that addresses current security and accessibility challenges and upgrading east-side restrooms and dormitory facilities to meet ADA standards. “Currently, our main entrance presents both security and accessibility challenges,” Smishek said, describing a buzzer-entry process and an outdated lift that makes access difficult for visitors with mobility needs.
Smishek told the committee the organization requested $6,000,000 and was grateful that the governor recommended $1,300,000 toward the work. Finance director John Tulp and communications director Betsy Anderson joined Smishek for the presentation; Anderson confirmed the campus building predates Perpich’s agency status and was originally opened in 1961 as Golden Valley Lutheran Community College.
Committee members followed with questions about whether Perpich could access different funding models, including conversion of the school portion to a charter. Tulp said after 31.5 years in school-district finance he did not believe a charter structure would benefit Perpich’s statewide mission or funding model. Chair Pappas and other members thanked the presenters and encouraged the committee to consider asset-preservation investments for state agencies.
The presentation concluded with committee appreciation for Perpich’s role in statewide arts education and a reminder that asset-preservation funding is the principal way the agency can address large facility needs because it lacks taxing authority and does not receive federal title funding.
The committee took no formal vote on the request during the hearing; the presentation was entered for the committee record.
