Museum Vision – The Way Ahead

In its present venue, the museum is space-constrained.  To alleviate this problem, Your CAA leadership actively worked with C-NP School District leadership in February 2022 to secure passage of a bond issue that will ultimately provide additional space for the museum.

The new museum venue area will be located in the Jim McCharen Student Activity Center on the campus of CHS.  Construction is scheduled to start in latter part of 2025. 

Roles & Responsibilities

During the latter half of 2023, CAA leadership formed a working group to delineate the short/long-term roles/responsibilities for the museum among the primary stakeholders – the CAA, the C-NP School District, and a group led by Dr. Jim McCharen and Andy Thompson (Class of 1965) who were preparing grant applications for the museum.  Due diligence research was conducted and legal implications were assessed.  A plan was then developed to move the museum from its current state – an informal organizational concept with an operational prototype – into a fully functional operational reality.

An independent C-NP Schools Museum non-profit organization is being formed. Legal incorporation will be followed by 501(c)(3) tax-exempt application and approval.  This entity will provide overall management, fiscal accountability, and operational oversight of the museum.  More information will be forthcoming in the upcoming months. 

The C-NP School District will provide overall Facility management and maintenance.  This will include payment of utilities, insurance, and facility repair/maintenance – but no direct financial or staffing support.  All museum-related funds previously held by C-NP School District were transferred to the CAA where they are currently reserved for museum-related expenses only.  

The CAA will continue its Preservation Partnership with both the School District and the Museum non-profit in order to ensure that the museum realizes its full potential.  This will include both financial and volunteer support as outlined in the CAA Charter including: serving as the short-term repository for all Museum-related funds; providing accurate accounting thereof; assisting in Museum incorporation and grant application processes as requested; transferring all Museum funds along with all accounting and financial responsibilities to the Museum non-profit upon its legal incorporation; utilizing the CAA website and other media to promote/publicize the Museum; continuing to accept Museum donations and immediately transferring them to the Museum non-profit.

Much has indeed been done.  Much is left to do.