On March 2, 2015, Omaha South High Magnet Principal, Ruben Cano, presented a plan to the Board to build an addition on to the school supporting Visual and Performing Arts. The addition will further expand opportunities for student training (artistic and technical) and encourage students to pursue careers in the arts.
The cost of the project is $12m. Rapid and increased growth in the school’s population has impacted the ability to effectively provide the necessary space supporting the magnet theme of the arts. Additional space is projected to increase opportunities for students in dance and piano by approximately 50%. Due to capacity challenges in the 13-14 school year, a substantial number of students were unable to participate in the performing arts pathway. Approximately, 70% of the 2,300 students at South participate in at least one class in the visual and performing arts and an estimated 35% of the student body takes two or more classes.
The proposed addition will be a multi-story structure with classrooms, dressing rooms, art studios and labs that will allow for growth in the following programs: dance, pottery, film, technology, instrumental music, music-theory and studio art.