Nazareth Area to temporarily shutter planetarium

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nazareth-school-budget-20120628,0,5084294.story FROM THE MORNING CALL Area School District once again will mothball its aging planetarium as part of its efforts to balance its budget. The high school planetarium is 40 years old and is badly in need of repair, according to outgoing Superintendent Victor Lesky. He estimated it would cost about $50,000 to bring it up to current standards. Lesky said the district plans to set aside funds for its repair, with an eye on reopening it in the 2014-15 school year. Until then, the district will offer an online planetarium course and retain the teacher who ran the planetarium. This isn't the first time the planetarium has sat dormant. It was closed for 10 years because of budget cutbacks and the lack of qualified teachers to run it.