Winchester still processing gym demolition and associated issues
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By BETH ZUMWALT
The Winchester School Board continues to work through the process of replacing the gym at the Winchester Grade School. Most sporting events and practices in the district occur in the grade school gym. The gym was found to have serious structural issues in January and has been off-limits since that time. Although the gym is attached to the school’s cafeteria, experts are confident that area is safe, only the gym is unstable.
“Grant DeWitt, our athletic director, was at our meeting,” Jeff Abell, superintendent of the district said. “He discussed what we might do about scheduling next year’s events. Last year we were able to practice at the Meredosia gym some, but, there are some conflicts.”
Athletic contracts usually work on a two-year cycle that includes one home game and one away game with each school on the schedule. The games that are scheduled to be played at Winchester this coming year, have to have a new facility to play.
And with boys and girls, junior high and high school sports, conflicts on gym space for games and practices can become complicated quickly.
The board told DeWitt to continue to work on the situation and to keep them in the loop.
Meanwhile, the district is looking to have an all-purpose room in place as early as November. The structure will be separate, but, close to the main building. It will allow for physical education and recesses to be held and maybe some limited junior high sports practices.
The board has not decided on a size, type or location of such building, but, Abell is hopeful to be able to fund the building without adding to the tax payers’ burden.
“The gym, yes, we are going to have to go to the tax payers for that, but, hopefully, we can avoid passing the cost of the all-purpose room to the tax bill,”Abell said.
Bids for the demolition of the failing gym are hopefully going to be let soon, with a bid opening sometime in May. The district is hopeful the work will start as soon as possible once school is out.
“Graduation is May 22, so that gives us an extra week,” Abell said, adding that he hoped to have a special board meeting soon to shore up some of the particulars.
