Committee Recommends New Gym, Other Major Athletic Improvements
The school’s Needs Assessment Committee recommended building a new competition gymnasium at an estimated cost of $6.4 million rather than renovating the existing gym’s dressing rooms and other areas. Mitchell Jansa and Jamie Walker, speaking for the committee at the school board meeting Feb. 9, said the committee felt that by the time all the necessary things are done in the existing gym, it would be better to start over. Also, just renovating existing areas would not address the need for more gym space.
They said a new gym would eliminate the expense of renovating current dressing rooms and would provide badly needed space, since there would be two gyms plus the “complex.”
A new gym would be built west of the existing one, which would become a practice gym. A common concession area would serve both facilities. All below-ground plumbing in the existing gym would be closed off and since it would become a practice facility, it would not have showers or basement-level toilets. The added-on area at the west end of the current gym which now houses varsity dressing rooms and athletic offices would be removed and those facilities relocated to the new gym. Basement-level dressing stalls would be removed, and the present lower-level dressing rooms would be used for athletic storage and for tornado evacuation purposes.
The community exercise room would be moved to the new gym, with an outside entrance and free “member” keys.
Relocating Football Field Said to Offer Advantages
The committee also recommended moving the football field to the approximate location of the present track and building a new track around the new football field. (The field and track would be turned to a north/south position rather than the east/west configuration of the present track.) Apparently, although the track was resurfaced only three years ago, it has cracks and other problems and needs to be redone. Bleachers, a new concession stand and public restrooms would serve football, track and tennis spectators. The current football field location would become parking for several school facilities. The committee believes such relocation would alleviate multiple problems with parking and safety concerns around the elementary school and existing football field.
School board members were vocal in wanting to be sure that any bond money be spent wisely and equitably. Doug Jost said while we need athletic facilities, we also need academic-related improvements, and should not let sports needs eat up too much of the total money. Nathan Halfmann said education is the number one concern. Carl Hoelscher said it is important that any bond money impact the entire school. Committee member Brent Kirkland said this isn’t an athletic bond. Kevin Hirt wondered if a $12 million bond will pass, saying the board worried about a $3 or $4 million one last time.
Note: If the GCISD board chooses to ask for a bond, more detailed information regarding cost estimates as well as tax issues will be included in the March issue of the Glasscock County News.