Comments on: Decatur’s “Technically Sophisticated” Auditorium Too Pricey For Some

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:07:23 +0000

My kids have always attended Decatur schools and my daughter attended Decatur School of Ballet. It may be a private business, but I think it’s a true asset to the community.

I saw that the school board will be discussing a new fee structure for the auditorium, so I think the system is addressing this issue.

By: "Naaman" Gibbets

"Naaman" Gibbets — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:06:27 +0000

Artists have, for the most part, always wanted to make a living–guilds and unions (oh, that’s a dirty word, I know) have in the past made sure of that. So continue being delusional flies if you wish.
The ballet school has not fallen on hard times, have they? Maybe they are cheap–er, looking for good deals like the rest of us.

By: Karass

Karass — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 23:50:23 +0000

It is true that DSB has done a ton for the Decatur community over the years even though the owners children do not go to CSD nor do many of their students.

By: Winnona Park Mom

Winnona Park Mom — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:51:08 +0000

Interesting that the Decatur school system was perfectly happy to accept many hours of free professional advice from the owners of DSB (as well as perfectly happy to see DSB offer scholarships to low-income students), but offer zero in return. I do not see anywhere that the Decatur High School would be operating at a loss by negotiating a reduced fee — and may rather be trying to make a profit off the rental of the space. What I do know, however, is that the owners of Decatur Ballet contribute enormously to the city of Decatur . . . my daughter recently attended the Decatur Easter Egg Hunt, and guess who organized the event and was in charge? The owners of Decatur School of Ballet. Did they charge for their valuable time or the truck they used to cart equipment? I am sure not. Our daughter also attended Breakfast with Santa. And who was there, running the whole event? The owners of Decatur Ballet. These are just two of many community events that the Everetts have contributed to and helped run for years. Those of you who are eager to criticize them for trying to negotiate an affordable rate for dance performances should consider their value to the community — and the fact it is always easier to spend someone else’s money. Given what I have seen of and heard of the Everetts, if they say the new performance space was priced beyond their budget and beyond what they had been led to think, then it was. We pay very high taxes to live in the city of Decatur — and I am delighted to see some of them go to supporting cultural events within the city at an affordable rate. I of course agree with you who don’t want to see Decatur High School rent the space out at a loss — but neither should the high school make a profit off of people who have contributed so much to the community, to Decatur HIgh students, and to the performance space itself.

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:30:41 +0000

I think honestly if times were better and schools we well funded, then this wouldn’t be as much of an issue. Seriously.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:28:44 +0000

Sounds like something to bring up at next Monday’s cultural arts planning meeting.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:59:05 +0000

I’m with you, Cranky, but I think we’re the flies in the hard-dollar buttermilk. Cultural assets that conform to our standard of penniless artists and romantics? Good. Cultural assets who’ve found a way to make a living? Bad.

I kid. Sorta.

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:58:48 +0000

The tone of these letters, I think, is basically that DSB is a business and as such the taxpayers should not be subsidizing the performances with cheap rates at the facilities that cause the school to LOSE money, especially when schools are talking about furlough days. After finding out the school is making zero profit on the rental fees and merely covering costs, then I fell no one should get a cut rate & it seems like the policies are fair.

I think also a number of us did not appreciate the fact this woman publicly listed all her contributions to the city as reasons she should get a break. Many businesses do just as much or more. That doesn’t make an ounce of difference in what it costs CSD to run a performance.

As an Agnes Scott alumna, I have to ask why should the college need to “work” with her? The school always offers out facilities to the community at reasonable rates and has plenty of its own expenses to deal with, including piles in annual grants and scholarships and some capital needs in the dorms.