Brentley committee explores AWC purchase by city schools

[Dr. Nelson Harrison]

Feb 5, 2014

By Christian Morrow

MARK BRENTLEY

When Mark Brentley suggested to his fellow Pittsburgh School Board members that the district should acquire the bankrupt August Wilson Center for African American Culture, rather than ask how a district projected to be insolvent in two years could purchase the building, they agreed to form an ad hoc committee to explore the idea.

That committee held its first public brainstorming session Jan. 31, and heard a few ideas that Brentley said sounded promising, all of which included some association with the Creative and Performing Arts high school.

“The one I really like involves putting the adjunct professors like Roger Humphries and Sean Jones there, and then charging surrounding school districts that have lost their arts programs to come in and get top notch instruction–for a fee, of course,” he said.

“The building could generate its own income.”

Further suggestions included using it for classes during the day and for performances at night, perhaps partnering with one of the foundations. Trombonist Hill Jordan said the district is missing the boat by not selling its facilities and expertise to parents outside the city.

“I know parents, in the city, who want to send their kids to Dillworth Academy, but can’t. So they pay a lot to send them to Winchester Thurston instead,” Hill said. “Rather than thinking how the district can save the center, you should be thinking how the center could save the district.”

Currently CAPA has 15 students from outlying districts that pay roughly $14,000 to attend. But because city residents are given preference in the audition process, no more paying students can be added.  Another issue is would the center be able to keep the money it might generate? Or does it have to go to the general fund? Brentley said he did not know.  There are devils in the details, he admitted.

An even more bedeviling detail was revealed when AWC Liquidator Judith Fitzgerald called into the meeting to give an update on the center’s status. She said she could not go into specifics because she had signed confidentiality agreements with several interested parties, all of which, she said, want to continue the center’s mission.

The district however, has not signed one, and therefore isn’t privy to actual numbers on building expenses, conditions, etc., and cannot even submit a plan to buy the building.

Committee member Ryan Neely from the district’s finance office, said there was no way he could evaluate whether or not buying the center was even possible without detailed information.

And Fitzgerald said she wants all plans submitted by the end of March so she can evaluate them. If there is more than one bidder, Judge Lawrence O’Toole will select the winner.

But board and committee member Terry Kennedy noted the district is barred from signing a confidentiality agreement because it is funded by tax revenues and required to do all its business in public.

Brentley said he would ask for the district to sign an agreement at the regular February board meeting.

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