I would say the first thing you don't know is your requirements. And to say that you know more about the
current system than anyone, and then to say that it doesn't work like it should does not inspire confidence.
See, here's the thing..."it doesn't work like it should" will not go very far in justifying anything. Are saying that if the stuff you currently have worked, it WOULD be adequate? And who is it doing the complaining? Students? Tech? Heck, tech never gets everything they want. Talk to the band director, theatrical teachers, choir director, anyone and everything with authority who uses the space and ask them what is it about the space that does not meet their NEEDS.
Think of it this way:
Your requirements are derived from the intended use of the
system. Think of all uses currently expected.
Here's something to start with:
Theatrical performances
Lighting requirements:
Ability to
wash entire
stage with 4 unique colors, dividing the
stage into 4 quadrants, each quandrant to be controlled separately.
This is one requirement. Now, how will the requirement be met? Perhaps a boatload of pars, perhaps LEDs, perhaps something else.
List the available options.
Then work your next requirement for Theatrical performances. Maybe it's to provide a front lit, macandless
plot, providing three
point lighting to the
stage in nine unique areas. This can be done with Source 4s, with angle based on distance and lighting area required.
From just these two requirements we now know that we need minimum of 27 source 4s, 16 PARs (or 4 LEDS), and minimum of 13 control channels.
Do the same thing for band performances, choral, recitals, and each of the uses you can think of. Break it down in just this way. Once you've done lighting, you can apply the same practice to sound.
This is how to justify what's needed. It's the basic work anyone does when determining requirements for a performance space.
You want movers, justify them.....why do you NEED them? Would it be cheaper to rent when needed?
You want a V-DOSC? Why? What's the intended volume
level? Ask, doesn't assume. Does the room work with a
line-array, maybe or maybe not. Ask the manufacturer. Why put in a
system capable of 120db at
FOH when the school board restricts performance levels to 95db.
Once all your requirements are determined, you can then go about selecting the tools needed to meet the requirements.
Then, when the budget arrives and you realize that you've been given less than a quarter of the budget you need to meet your requirements, you can go back and reduce requirements, knowing what's being sacrificed, that limitations are now being inflicted, with some form of sense and planning.
Thoughts such as: Should I step down to lower-priced wireless, or remove the wireless requirement and plan on renting when needed?
I pretty much guarantee that if approached in this way. Two things will happen. First, your space will be much more usable than it was before. And second, those movers you thought you desperately needed will have been scratched from the list on the first pass.
So far, there aren't many details available. Here's what I can say for sure:
1. the "justification" for the project is rampant complaints that the facility is inadequate (and by inadequate, I mean absolutely nothing works the way it should).
2. They're looking to redesign the audio
system, get new
curtains, resurface the
stage, upgrade the lighting
system, and install a proper control booth.
3. I personally know more about the
current system than anyone else. This is not an exaggeration.
What I don't know is:
1. the exact budget for the project
2. what type of intelligent fixtures are being considered
3. the estimated time frame of the whole project
but you might as well read what he has to say. 
