Video: Groundbreaking for new arts center at Richards

Last week the District 218 Board of Education hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new performing arts center at Richards High School.

While marking the start of construction, the event really celebrated the district's commitment to arts education.

Superintendent Dr. Ty Harting and Board President Thomas Kosowski spoke about the significance of this facility for our community. Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury, Alsip Mayor John Ryan, and other dignitaries joined the Board for the ceremonial first shovel in the ground.

And band director Charles Martin and his students helped make the event complete.

If you don't watch the whole video, forward to the 10:20 mark and listen to Dr. Ty Harting speak eloquently about the importance of the arts to students, schools, and communities.

“There are a lot of arguments about this. It’s a lot of money, a significant investment by the school board for the district and the community. There are lots of arguments about the arts. (People ask) is this academic? If you’re going to spend money, what about classrooms, what about math, what about English?

"And I’ll suggest to you, and I’ll argue with you, this is academic, this does matter. The arts are important in our society and they’re important in our schools. There’s lots of research out there that schools everywhere that have thriving arts programs have students that succeed. This isn’t just a theater project. It’s about our music programs and our drama programs and our speech programs. These things matter. Our kids excel at high levels when they’re involved in artistic pursuits.”