Board takes new look at auxliliary gym (03/21/07)

Plans for an auxiliary gym at Jay County High School have resurfaced.

Jay School Corporation superintendent Tim Long said this morning he plans to ask the board at its April 23 meeting to schedule a Public Law 1028 bond hearing for construction of an additional gymnasium in May. At that May hearing, a project timeline, scope of the project as well as cost estimates for the new facility will be discussed, Long said this morning.

If the board chooses to move forward after the Public Law 1028 hearing, it would place public notice advertising spelling out the proposed maximum cost of the project. That would then trigger a 30-day period during which taxpayers could petition for a remonstrance.

An auxiliary gym was originally part of the high school renovation project currently under way but was deleted by the board when the project was scaled back.

The current $18 million renovation project has focused on upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning at the high school as well as an overhaul of the vocational area and repairs and expansion of the swimming pool.

"There is a need for that facility. With 1,200 students it's something we need to do... It is a needed facility in my opinion and according to the surveys (conducted last fall)," Long said. "I need to present a plan to the school board that is efficient, effective and has a financial plan that we believe can neutralize the cost to the public."

"It will be a little more acceptable," Long said.

Board members have been setting back money in the school corporation's capital projects fund for two years with an eye toward building an auxiliary gym.

Jay School Corporation business manager Brad DeRome said this morning that $500,000 has been set aside for the project so far.

He estimated the cost of the facility to cost between $2 million and $4 million, depending on the size of the facility.

"That is the biggest piece of the puzzle, how are we going to fund it? Those are things we have to get worked out. There are no answers now," DeRome said.

Jay School Board member Greg Wellman said this morning that when construction of an auxiliary gym was originally discussed he did not want to pay for it through a tax increase.

"I still don't," Wellman said this morning. "If we can pay for it without a tax increase, sure."

Wellman added that he would also like the gym to be used by community organizations for activities with children on Wednesday nights.

"If we can't get those two things, I will be voting no," Wellman said.

Jay School Board member Mike Shannon said this morning that the majority of people he has talked to are behind the project.

"Everybody decided there was a shortage and (a new facility is needed) to make sure that kids could be the most productive," Shannon said.

Long also said that he has been part of similar projects in two different school corporations. He added that the gym could be utilized by the band, wrestling, gymnastics and other community activities.

"It will be more than an auxiliary gym. It will be a multi-purpose facility," Long said.

Corporation officials will work with Fort Wayne architectural firm Barton/Coe/Vilamaa on plans for the new facility, DeRome said. This company also completed the plans used during the current renovation project at JCHS.[[In-content Ad]]