Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facility Use Equity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Orange dance studio seeks answers after district cancels recital while hosting cheer competition
Summary
Concepts Dance Academy owners and families say their Dec. 14 recital was canceled at the last minute for safety reasons even though a cheer competition was held at the high school that day. The district’s superintendent said the cancellation resulted from safety, liability and staffing constraints tied to budget cuts; community members called for clearer facility-use protocols.
Families and the owner of Concepts Dance Academy told the West Orange Board of Education on Dec. 15 they were left scrambling and upset after the district canceled the studio’s Dec. 14 recital while a cheerleading competition proceeded at the high school the same day.
Jason Broom, speaking for families, said the district’s lots and sidewalks had been plowed and “the doors were unlocked, the lights were on, the heat was running, and hundreds of people were inside the building” for the cheer event while the studio’s recital was canceled at the last minute. “How does the district determine that the facility is safe for cheerleading competition, but we can't host a dance recital?” he asked.
Debbie Rembert, owner of Concepts Dance Academy, said parents and grandparents had traveled for performances and paid for tickets; she presented photographs and asked the board whether outside renters face different standards than school-sponsored events. “Understanding this decision was made for the dance show would be helpful as I work to ensure equitable treatment of all performing arts,” Rembert said.
Superintendent Moore told the board the district made the call to cancel evening events out of concern for safety and liability amid a snow event and limited custodial/plowing resources. Moore said prior cuts to buildings-and-grounds staffing and the district’s budget deficit constrained available manpower and that administrators sometimes close events to ensure campuses can be prepared for students and staff the next day. “If your guests were to slip and fall, that would be our responsibility,” Moore said.
Board members and the superintendent apologized for the disruption and said the district offered to reschedule or refund outside-renter events when cancellation is necessary. Several residents asked the board to publish clearer, written protocols about how the district decides to permit or cancel community use of facilities and whether different types of events are subject to different requirements.
The board did not vote on a formal policy during the meeting. The superintendent said the district would look into the incident and follow up with the parties involved.
