The Plano Independent School District has received a large grant of $500,000 for its

forthcoming Robinson Fine Arts Center.

The donation was made by the center’s namesakes, the late George “Robbie” Robinson and his
late wife Lynore Robinson. This was Robinson’s final donation before he died this October.

“The school district is honored that someone of his character, extraordinary accomplishments
and storied lifetime will carry the name of our district’s new fine arts center, and we are
wholeheartedly appreciative that in his final wishes he thought of our local students and
community,” said Superintendent Sara Bonser in a statement.

The Plano Independent School District serves over 55,000 students and employs 6,400 faculty
members. However, each of the four high schools’ auditoriums only seat 700 people or fewer.
The new 85,000 square-foot facility will be able to accommodate 1,700 people.

The district typically rents 40 venues each school year for student performances, requiring
about $50,000 in fundraising each year. The new space will allow for students to participate in
local events and competitions while fundraising money will instead go into the arts education
budget.

“The new Plano ISD Fine Arts Center will provide a venue with amazing acoustics and students,
teachers, and performers can take pride in knowing this venue was built just for us. We no
longer have to go to another school district to play or play in cafeterias or gyms,” said Amy
Gross, the associate orchestra director at Plano West Senior High School, in an interview.

Among its several awards and honors, Plano has been named among the “Best Communities
for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation since 2000. The district had 69 All-State
musicians in the 2019-2020 school year, and the Plano West Jazz Ensemble was a 2019
Essentially Ellington finalist.

“The music program in Plano is very impressive, high quality, and intense. Plano has so many
amazingly talented musicians in orchestra, band, and choir, which makes it really competitive
but we all push each other to work harder and get better,” said Amy Forden, a former member
of Plano’s top orchestra, in an interview.

With a new venue in Plano, students and teachers will be able to showcase their talents and
strengthen their fine arts education.

“Music education not only helps students develop higher-level problem-solving skills but also
helps students grow in self-esteem,” said Gross. “The new fine arts center validates how
important music education is in the schools.”