Facility Concerns #7

            The article below represents the last submission as a result of the Board of Education’s original “needs identification” activity to supply information to the public.  There may be other issues that arise that can be shared, but every article through the end of this one indicates the immediate needs of our district.  The content will focus on extracurricular spaces and facilities. 

            As shared previously, our current gym space is scheduled for a facelift this summer.  This activity will improve safety for spectators and playing surface for competitors, it does not address practice time and space or the ability to attract other people into the community for activities.  The Board feels a second, competition-sized gymnasium is warranted and needed with any updates/construction going forward.  The space could be used to alleviate P.E. scheduling conflicts between elementary and high school, practice scheduling conflicts, and gain the ability to host conference and district events in our community.  The use of our current gym begins shortly before 6:00 am with junior high practice and often ends after 8:00 pm with some youth activity.  This all assumes there is not a home activity that night.  The ability to host events may not seem to be important, but having outside people in our community and in our schools, is an added revenue source for the local economy and the school economy that can certainly assist us going forward.  Additionally, when weather requires recess to be held inside, there are no available spaces.  The construction of a second gym/commons area could alleviate this pressure, as well.

            The football “complex” is the other major extracurricular facility that will require significant investment.  The asphalt track that is used in the spring is due to be completely redone, from the base to the topcoat, because the base is crumbling because of age and natural heaving of the landscape.  Below the text, you will find pictures of the track taken this spring before any patching.  If the track were to be redone, it would make sense to also re-crown the football field.  There should be a natural elevation in the middle of the field to help with water management and maintaining an even playing surface, but ours as eroded over the past four decades.  This may not be an absolute necessity, but would certainly make sense if the track were to be torn up and the equipment on-site to address this, as well.  The stadium bleachers at the field are a safety concern.  With the foundational concrete for the bleachers and press box changing shape, the surface may not remain level.  Additionally, just as with the bleachers in the gym, those at the field are safety hazards and would not meet requirements they set for current construction.

            Finally, in conjunction with the football field, the current “field house” used by our players has served its purpose.  With the amount of renovation work that would need done to the building, it would make sense to have it a part of our football facility, at the north field to house our student-athletes.  This could also serve as a storage facility for football and track equipment, as well as concessions at the field, depending on the size of a proposed structure.  The current concessions’ building has several disjointed blocks and cracks throughout which would warrant a safer building.

            As a reminder, each of these articles, past and present, can be read online at http://suptcorner.blogspot.com or by visiting our webpage and clicking on “Superintendent’s Corner” in the top right corner.  Please feel free to comment or leave feedback on any of the submissions.  Thank you for your continued attention to the facility needs for the students in our district.