Action taken by the Frisco ISD board of trustees at a special meeting June 22 takes the city one step closer toward having a performing arts center.

The FISD board approved an updated agreement with the city of Frisco and Hall Group to build a $67 million performing arts center at Hall Park. The agreement also includes a complimentary parking garage and 5-acre park linking the future facility with The Star in Frisco.

The main 1,250- to 1,500-seat performance hall will be publicly owned by FISD, according to the agreement. The district is using $43 million in bond funds that were approved by district voters in 2018, alongside $14 million from the city and $10 million from Hall Group founder Craig Hall. The city of Frisco will own a community venue with at least 250 seats.

Deputy Superintendent Todd Fouche said meetings with Hall have been productive and praised the businessman's involvement as a critical piece to the agreement.

“We said, ‘You know, kids come with yellow buses and chewing gum on the bottom of seats and all kinds of things that you may not want at a performing arts center that’s going to be beautiful in your park,’” Fouche said. “He just kept saying over and over again, ‘I get that.’”

A presentation by FISD staff stated fine arts teachers help instruct about 53,000 of the district's nearly 65,000 students, or about 81% of total student enrollment. The facility will host an estimated 150-170 days of shows, performances and faculty learning experiences from the school district.

In front of dozens of fine arts students who attended the meeting, Board President Rene Archambault described the project as a forward-thinking initiative to further the education of FISD students.

“When we look at opportunities like this, we think about our students first, and this is a student-first project,” Archambault said. “We're so excited for the future, for this project and for the future facility in the city of Frisco.”

Frisco City Council initially voted June 1 on an agreement for the performing arts center. Council will also hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. June 22 to vote on the updated agreement at the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd.