Performing Arts Center "Aggressively" Seeking Replacement For Envision Academy

Last week's announcement that Burnsville's two-year-old Envision Academy of the Arts was scheduled for closure at the end of this school year was met with shock and surprise throughout the community and student body.

An early statement from the performing arts school stated "financial constraints coupled with low enrollment for the coming school year" as the chief reasons behind the decision. 

According to reports, 66 students enrolled in the school in its inaugural year but the number of expected students for next year has since dropped to 35. 

Independent school district 191 required 100 students to continue operations in the 2011-2012 school year.  

But while Envision Academy tries to solve the enrollment conundrum there is a very real budgetary concern growing in the halls of the Burnsville Performing Arts Center (BPAC), the school's host. 

District 191 was expected to contribute approximately $395,000 in 2011 between rent, transportation and staff for Envision, but a significant chunk of that revenue will obviously no longer make it into BPAC coffers. 

"We did budget for that income this year but we budgeted through the entire calendar year so we'll only feel half of the impact of losing that revenue" explained BPAC chief executive John Elbaum. 

While Elbaum is concerned, he certainly does not seem worried about finding a replacement for Envision. 

"We are aggressively pursuing other relationships with artistic organizations throughout the metro area. We have a list of organizations that have expressed interest in the past so we'll pursue those avenues first."  

The timeline offered for finding said replacement is equally aggressive. 

"We think it will take a few months to find the right partner," Elbaum said. "The key is finding a partner that provides the right mix of benefit to the community and revenue to us."  

Regardles of what happens, it is clear both parents and students have been deeply affected by the district's decision to close the Envision doors.

Dan Kooda, father of a potential Envision student, used the Envision Academy Facebook page to sum up the reaction echoed throughout much of the community. 

"Just heard you're closing. My daughter is crushed. She was going to attend next year. Are there other options for these (performing arts) students? Where will the current students go? Looking for help!"

Envision parent Jill Riter looked beyond the financial and logistical complications in her message to the school after hearing of the closing.  

"What a wonderful place this has been...true success achieved by all who have been a part of this creative, innovative and energy-filled school. Thanks to all the teachers who have given so much to their students. This is the kind of school I like to see and, as a youth, would have loved to have been a part of...," Riter posted on the Facebook page. 

While short-term goals require some quick maneuvering on the part of BPAC, Elbaum also seemed to think that an Envision revival was not out of the question.

"We cherished the relationship we had with the Envision Academy. It is an unfortunate situation. Perhaps down the road that is a relationship that can be reinvigorated and we can continue our educational outreach together."

Envision Academy declined requests to comment for this article.