Future of Gene Roddenberry Planetarium up in the air as El Paso ISD seeks grant to fund move
The future of El Paso's only planetarium isn't as clear as the night sky over West Texas, but a city grant could help provide funding for a new home in the Northeast.
The Gene Roddenberry Planetarium named after the El Paso-born creator of Star Trek does not have a designated home after the El Paso Independent School District vacates its current central offices at the end of 2019. But the district is hoping a city development grant could help fund a new space for the 48-year-old planetarium.
Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, chief financial officer for EPISD, said if the district does not get this grant, there's a possibility of the planetarium closing down.
"The planetarium is really a community asset. We serve students from throughout the region and beyond," Arrieta-Candelaria said. "We dont necessarily have a plan right now for the planetarium, due to funding. If we got $1.4 million towards the moving of this asset, then the community would be able to continue to enjoy it."
Read more: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/education/episd/2017/12/04/episd-gene-roddenberry-planetarium-future-uncertain/909514001/