PORTSMOUTH — The auditorium where a countless number of Kate Grana’s students sang and performed during her 30-plus-year teaching career will now bear her name.
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PORTSMOUTH — The auditorium where a countless number of Kate Grana’s students sang and performed during her 30-plus-year teaching career will now bear her name.
The School Committee Tuesday night voted unanimously to approve a request by the nonprofit Kate Grana Music and Arts Association to rename the auditorium after the former music teacher, choral director and vocal coach, who died of ovarian cancer in May 2016. Ms. Grana, who started the musical theater program at PHS, was 66.
The nonprofit is raising funds for major renovations to the auditorium, which hasn’t seen any real upgrades since PHS first opened in 1963. The room is in dire need of a modern sound and lighting system, and the hard wooden folding chairs need to be replaced, members say.
Among the group’s members is Sue Cotta, a PHS grad who was Ms. Grana’s spouse. She was not at Tuesday’s meeting, but several other members celebrated in her place.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Margie Brennan, who has three theater children and is a founding member of the association. “And, I think Sue Cotta will be completely happy that her loved one, who spent hours and hours away from home, will be honored in the right way.”
The re-naming of the auditorium, said Ms. Brennan, “just solidifies our mission to build on Kate’s inspiration.”
Maura Sheehan, another member of the nonprofit and a mother of two PHS theater students — her daughter Mary was a voice student of Ms. Grana’s — said the decision was particularly gratifying considering all the support that PHS’ athletic program receives.
“I love sports — I’m a sports lawyer — but the kids who do arts and theater seem to get the short end of the stick,” Ms. Sheehan said.
Subcommittee reviewed request
The naming or re-dedicating of school facilities is no easy task. A school board policy that was enacted in 1995 sets forth strict guidelines to follow when the district receives a request to name a building, athletic field, library, classroom or other special area after a person.
“Only those individuals whose record of service is such as to inspire pride and honor to those utilizing the facility will be considered,” the policy reads.
Whenever a name is presented for consideration, the school board must appoint a “seven-member subcommittee to consider the worthiness of such request,” and then a recommendation is presented to the full School Committee.
The naming committee that reviewed the request was facilitated by Superintendent Ana Riley and included members of the Kate Grana Music and Arts Association, PHS Principal Joseph Amaral, School Committee member Andrew Kelly and Diana White, retired PHS administrative assistant.
The committee listed several reasons why Ms. Grana was worthy of the honor, and “No one who loved the space more” was at the top.
The panel also noted she “made people feel safe and wanted (especially theater students)” and that she connected with students all ages “through music, her personality, her humor.”
Band trip approved
In another arts/music-related matter, the committee approved an excursion request by the PHS Music Department to schedule next year’s band trip to Orlando, Fla. for late March of 2019.
The band requested to take the trip at that time of year, rather than during a school vacation week, in order to save money.