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Neighbors | Submitted.Fitch Choir Director Bill Klein and the Women’s Chorus 1 class checked out the new stage lighting for the first time.
The Austintown Fitch Auditorium underwent the first phase of a dramatic renovation. The goal of the renovation was to enhance the facility, which is utilized by both the schools and community.
Gina Cardillo, a teacher and the General Manager of Austintown Community Television, was a part of the committee that planned the renovation.
“The changes to our facility are a physical representation of our entire school community’s purpose, which is to provide a vehicle for performance and a gathering place for various organizations,” she said.
Cardillo credits a large group of people with the makeover, and says it was “truly a team effort.”
The renovation committee includes: Phill Jaminet (Phillip J. Jaminet Engineering), Tracie Kaglic (Olsavsky Jaminet Architects, Inc.), Michael Johnston (Tri-Area Electric), Dan Rebraca (Carpet Tech), Mal Culp (Head of Maintenance for the school district), Tom Ventresco (IT for the school district), Dave Laurie and Steve Diana (school maintenance workers), Dan Johnson (Technical Manager, Austintown Community Television), Carla Amann (Fitch Auditorium Manager) and Cardillo.
Cardillo expressed her excitement about the modernized lighting system for the school music and drama programs, as well as for every day meetings and assemblies. She expressed her appreciation for Phill Jaminet and Tracie Kaglic, who generously donated their time and energy to the project, as well as her own school family.
“Everyone from our school maintenance and IT departments to the ACTV staff and custodians worked tirelessly to complete this project. We can’t wait for everyone to see the changes we’ve made,” she said.
Carla Amann, Auditorium Manager, echoed this sentiment.
“I can’t wait to see all that we can do with the new lighting for our musical and drama performances. Being able to modernize this for the kids is very exciting,” she said.
Although most of the changes in phase one were aesthetic, such as new carpet and a sound booth, it’s the new lighting that was the focus. Additionally, the facility will get a new coat of paint over Christmas break this year. A new sound system is the goal of phase two which is slated to begin next summer.
The annual Veterans Day Assembly on Nov. 11 was the first event set to take place in the auditorium since the renovation.