Video: Grand opening of Performing Arts Center at Richards HS

After a year of construction, the District 218 Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Ty Harting cut the (gold) ribbon to formally open the beautiful new Performing Arts Center at Richards High School.

Dr. Harting reminded everyone of the statement the Board made choosing to invest in the facility.

"The arts are important," he said. "Can you imagine a world without music, a world without art, a world without drama, without stories, without books."

And he also reminded everyone that, for a school known by many for its athletic achievements, the two most recent state champions from Richards competed in the arts: Ali Mohamed (last spring) in Original Comedy and Peter Forsberg in Extemperaneous Speaking, both IHSA state speech champions.