Date : From June 17, 2010 8:00 PM
Until June 17, 2010 10:00 PM
I wish to buy Tickets!
Description
Help support the continuation of North East School of the Arts (NESA), the nationally recognized magnet fine arts school on the campus of Robert E. Lee High School in North East Independent School District. NESA has been producing exceptional musical theatre, dance, orchestra, and film productions, as well as readings, literary magazines, and art exhibits for the past thirteen years to the delight of many San Antonio patrons of the arts. However, as you may have heard or read, the future of NESA is in jeopardy because of the current condition of state funding for education.
The proceeds from the NESA Benefit Concert at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre on June 17th will go to the NESA Fund, which was established by NESA pARTners, our parent support group. NESA pARTners has established the North East School of the Arts Fund: Fulfilling Dreams Through Education to raise money to assure the future of NESA through private contributions, corporate gifts, grants, and fundraising events
Perhaps the district could temporarily, say for two years, cut down NESA’s budget so that it keeps up the operating expenses of the facilities and equipment. Then, NESA could raise the funds for purchasing new cameras, hosting guest artists, building sets and costumes, etc. If NESA were to examine these costs, present them to the parents, and then ask them to pledge a certain amount to reach the goal, then the district would not have a viable reason for cutting the program. Since many of the parents clearly care that their child continues to receive a top notch arts education, it is entirely possible. Or, once the formula that was used to determine the cost per child ratio, determine that NESA will make up the difference between the non-magnet public arts experience and the magnet arts experience.
Creating the program took a tremendous investment of time, materials, and talent. It might be good to look at the amount that was invested in the program and suggest that while we need to tighten our belts for the short term, it would create a great long term deficit if cut now. Is investing in education a short or long term game? Is the next generation less deserving or wanting of an excellent education? Many programs set out to be the best of their kind, but NESA has already proved that it is. Something like this doesn’t just come along everyday and I fear for the morale and drive to suceed in the students. If the board quits NESA, or any other excellent specialized program, why won’t the students- who put their whole selves into learning it- quit too?
Hi I’m Talia, and I live in San Diego, California and I have been a big fan of NESA since the beginning. I have been to a lot of their shows and dance concerts and I am always very impressed with the dancers, actors, and singers. I have had a lot of friends go through NESA and they have all become great performers and amazing people just through their four years at NESA. I remember Curtis Holbrook at NESA, and I just saw him performing as a main character in West Side Story on Broadway! Many of my friends have gotten dance scholarships and are pursuing dance in their careers on Broadway and with many famous dance companies. These are just a few examples of how much NESA affects people and their opportunities for a career.
When I heard that NESA might be closing, I was heartbroken and very dissappointed. I know how much the students and teachers are attached to NESA, and how much the program means to them. My Aunt Dena is the dance director at NESA and I know how much time, effort, and passion she puts into this amazing program. She cares for each and every one of her students, pushes them, and provides opportunites with guest choreographers to teach them about different styles of dance. She and many NESA departments work together to research scholarships and help the students with choreography and video taping for their scholarship application. So as you can see,all students of the NESA departments help each other to put on amazing shows and to mold each other’s future even if they are in different departments.
The quality of the shows has always amazed. You would never guess it was a high school performance. Since I live in San Diego, I have tried to find a “NESA” out here. I have looked at three different performing arts schools, and none of them even come close to NESA. NESA is a very special and unique school that should NEVER BE DROPPED.
I am a 7th grader now, and I hope to attend NESA when I’m older if my parents let me move to Texas:). I will always be a fan of NESA and I love that school very much.
Please remember, any threatening comments against any person or place can be considered a federal offense. Even those said in jest are considered to be real until they are fully investigated by law enforcement. Comments on open sites can be specifically monitored and targeted.
Please remind your kids and their friends that sometimes even a name or illusion to a threat is enough to get the attention of the authorities.
January 14th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Perhaps the district could temporarily, say for two years, cut down NESA’s budget so that it keeps up the operating expenses of the facilities and equipment. Then, NESA could raise the funds for purchasing new cameras, hosting guest artists, building sets and costumes, etc. If NESA were to examine these costs, present them to the parents, and then ask them to pledge a certain amount to reach the goal, then the district would not have a viable reason for cutting the program. Since many of the parents clearly care that their child continues to receive a top notch arts education, it is entirely possible. Or, once the formula that was used to determine the cost per child ratio, determine that NESA will make up the difference between the non-magnet public arts experience and the magnet arts experience.
Creating the program took a tremendous investment of time, materials, and talent. It might be good to look at the amount that was invested in the program and suggest that while we need to tighten our belts for the short term, it would create a great long term deficit if cut now. Is investing in education a short or long term game? Is the next generation less deserving or wanting of an excellent education? Many programs set out to be the best of their kind, but NESA has already proved that it is. Something like this doesn’t just come along everyday and I fear for the morale and drive to suceed in the students. If the board quits NESA, or any other excellent specialized program, why won’t the students- who put their whole selves into learning it- quit too?
January 14th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Thanks Natalie. Great thoughts and insight.
January 16th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Hi I’m Talia, and I live in San Diego, California and I have been a big fan of NESA since the beginning. I have been to a lot of their shows and dance concerts and I am always very impressed with the dancers, actors, and singers. I have had a lot of friends go through NESA and they have all become great performers and amazing people just through their four years at NESA. I remember Curtis Holbrook at NESA, and I just saw him performing as a main character in West Side Story on Broadway! Many of my friends have gotten dance scholarships and are pursuing dance in their careers on Broadway and with many famous dance companies. These are just a few examples of how much NESA affects people and their opportunities for a career.
When I heard that NESA might be closing, I was heartbroken and very dissappointed. I know how much the students and teachers are attached to NESA, and how much the program means to them. My Aunt Dena is the dance director at NESA and I know how much time, effort, and passion she puts into this amazing program. She cares for each and every one of her students, pushes them, and provides opportunites with guest choreographers to teach them about different styles of dance. She and many NESA departments work together to research scholarships and help the students with choreography and video taping for their scholarship application. So as you can see,all students of the NESA departments help each other to put on amazing shows and to mold each other’s future even if they are in different departments.
The quality of the shows has always amazed. You would never guess it was a high school performance. Since I live in San Diego, I have tried to find a “NESA” out here. I have looked at three different performing arts schools, and none of them even come close to NESA. NESA is a very special and unique school that should NEVER BE DROPPED.
I am a 7th grader now, and I hope to attend NESA when I’m older if my parents let me move to Texas:). I will always be a fan of NESA and I love that school very much.
SAVE NESA!
- Talia Hill
January 18th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Please remember, any threatening comments against any person or place can be considered a federal offense. Even those said in jest are considered to be real until they are fully investigated by law enforcement. Comments on open sites can be specifically monitored and targeted.
Please remind your kids and their friends that sometimes even a name or illusion to a threat is enough to get the attention of the authorities.
Thanks
January 20th, 2010 at 11:21 am
in all caps: I AM SO PROUD OF ALL THE WORK NESA PARENTS HAVE PUT INTO SAVING MY SCHOOL, MY HISTORY, AND MY FRIENDS FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH!