Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The New Rockford- Sheyenne Board of Education held a special meeting on Monday, March 16 to listen to a presentation given by Reed Weisenburger regarding potential plans for constructing (and financing) a new gymnasium.
Weisenburger explained that the idea of a second gym expansion started on a smaller scale two years ago and has since evolved into a project of interest for some community members.
The project, as he explained, would be a great asset to the community as well as the students.
“More than 75% of NR-S students participate in extracurriculars,” said Weisenburger, citing data from the recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey. “They all need space.” He continued, “Juggling the space needs with 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. practices in January is an issue.”
The intense competition for practice space is apparent in the winter, when girls basketball, boys basketball and archery are all vying for the same space in the gym. In some cases, the Brown Memorial suffices to accommodate the overflow, however there are limitations on allowable activities in that facility. Volleyball and archery are two activities that cannot be held in the Brown; volleyball due to lack of equipment and archery due to city ordinance.
Some community members have approached Weisenburger and others asking if the gym at the former Sheyenne school (now Open Season Lodge) were an option. The short answer is no. Not only is transportation a major concern, but the Open Season Lodge doesn’t have the appropriate liability insurance to allow athletic practice.
From most angles, a second gym seems like a viable answer. Weisenburger contends that most surrounding areas have two gyms, a speculation he investigated during this season’s basketball and archery season. He cites that both Maddock and Lakota have an extra facility to accommodate the extracurricular activities.
The plan, as it is now, is to construct a 90-by-70 foot building on school property near the current gym. Ideally this would include a breezeway to the current gym to better accommodate storage and traffic flow, and to reduce the need for restroom facilities within that second structure. This preliminary vision includes retractable bleachers on the wall and a rollout rubber subsurface with a self-leveling urethane finish for the floor.
Weisenburger and others working on this project are well aware that this is not the kind of project to ask for community support through tax dollars. Instead, the group asked for board approval to initiate fundraising efforts in an attempt to collect private donations.
“Our initial goal is $500,000,” Weiseburger told the board.
The board discussed the project in some detail, weighing the benefits of the project against their concerns with the location, which overlaps with the currently new playground equipment. Several discussion points emerged as board members navigated potential options to preserve or relocate the existing playground equipment.
Ultimately, in approving the fundraising phase of the project, the board made it clear that the approval is for fundraising only, and that funds should be used to hire an architect to aid in developing a workable location and accurate cost-estimate.
Weisenburger assured the board that very little of the project has been set in stone. The board also assigned a committee for the fundraising efforts. This includes David Holzwarth, Mike Schafer, Mike Jacobson, David (Tubby) Bymoen and Weisenburger.
