Plans unveiled for second gym

On August 17, a special school board meeting was held to discuss the second gym project, where the proposed location of the gym was finally unveiled.

Allie Stevens, a design professional from the ICON Architectural Group, began by showing the board pictures of the proposed location. Rather than attaching it to the current gymnasium and elementary wing, she proposed building it adjacent to the CTE wing, which would minimize the impact on existing school structures.

Of particular concern was the playground, which would be significantly decreased to accommodate a new gym under the initial proposal. Other concerns were having to relocate the portable music classroom and hindering deliveries from the south exit on the north side. "All of which felt like big issues for us that are taking away from our guiding principles on what we wanted this project to be," explained Stevens.

Todd Blixt, a principal architect for the ICON Architectural Group, further explained that attaching the new gym to two existing structures comes with more cost implications than attaching it to one structure. Another reason given was to retain the ability of adding a classroom addition to the elementary wing, should the school require a future expansion.

Blixt and Stevens also expounded on features beyond the new gym. One of the most obvious was the addition of public bathrooms, changing rooms and a storage room between the gym and existing CTE wing. The bathrooms are necessary in order to meet regulations due to the increase in the school's square footage. The changing rooms won't have showers, but will provide lockers, benches and a place for students to change into and out of gym clothes.

The addition of that section also helps decrease the impact on the CTE wing, which would otherwise require expensive alterations to its roof in order to remain in compliance with snow drift regulations. Also a new hallway is proposed to connect the cafeteria to the new gym, which they intend to "window out" on the west side to allow sunlight in.

Stevens added, "[The hallway] does allow the shop classroom to be a little bit more on display, and with the 21st century learning principles that are coming through the education field these days, I think any way to display that shop class to students walking down that hallway could help draw them in and allow them to see what's happening in those classrooms."

Following the presentation, members of the board held a discussion and gave their opinions on the proposed location. Mike Schaefer, a New Rockford alum, expressed his approval of leaving the playground the same size and keeping open the potential to expand it at a later date. Reed Weisenburger, a member of the second gym fundraising committee, was enthusiastic about the gym's proposed location. He said, "I think I'm settled on this spot as being far and away the best location for it." Also expressing their support were fundraising chair Tubby Bymoen, board member Alyson Myhre, and Superintendent Jill Louters.

Board member Patti Larson expressed her desire to see an expansion of the CTE program rather than a new gym, or to at least build the new gym as a standalone building so that it could be sold at a later date if the extra space was no longer needed.

Nevertheless, it was decided to present the architectural drawings on Monday at Back-to-School night. Members of the public are welcome to the 4:30 - 6 p.m. event, The Board of Education will host a barbeque in the OWLS Garden, and students and their families will have an opportunity to check into their lockers and meet teachers and staff.

A cost evaluation was not presented at the meeting.