Dear Editor,
It has recently been announced that Barton County College will not renew the contract of the director of the theater director, Erin Renard.         
Tight budgets dictated by reduction in state funding and decreased property valuation are going to require tough decisions by the Barton Community College Board of Trustees. As they search for a path to solvency, I would like to implore them to leave the theatre program alone. The non-renewal of the BCC theater director is an attempt to balance the budget of the school on the back of the theater department. The department is too important to our community and its students. The Barton Community College theater program recruits talented students, provides quality productions for the public, and is considered a feeder of trained talent to the theatre community.
Barton Community College has a long tradition of support for the arts. A walk through the hall of the auditorium illustrates the many ways the college brings arts to our community. As the director of theater at Great Bend High School, many of my students have walked those halls and acted on the BCC stage. Having a strong theater program at BCC has given my students opportunities to pursue a college education without leaving the area. Having such a quality program, right here in Barton County has made a life changing difference for several of my kids. Destroying the theater program while simultaneously creating a wrestling program seems to demonstrate a disregard for the arts and a disproportionate emphasis on sports.  I support the plan to add wrestling, but not if we have to pay for it by eliminating theater.
The Fine Arts auditorium renovation highlights the desire of the community to have a strong and thriving theater program. The public donated tens of  thousands of dollars to complete the project. It would be a shame to have spent all that money on seating, lights and sound to only then fail to fund a worthy program. A huge public outcry should  occur if after investing all of this money and effort, the theater program foundation is destroyed.
It appears that the administration plans to hire adjunct faculty to teach theater classes. Adjunct faculty cannot build programs. They do not have the time or authority to recruit. The time spent producing a play cannot be compensated on a part-time salary. The end result will be that cuts will substantially curtail productions. The theater program at Barton Community College will be starved.
I pray that the members of the board of trustees, supporters of the theater department, and everyone in Barton County that cares about our students and our quality of life will please consider the consequences carefully before this misguided decision is finalized.
Dan Heath