Board gives OK on bus loop and middle school locker rooms, holds off on elementary school remodel

by Joseph Back

Pending plans, grant writing, and outside approval, a new storm shelter/gym could be coming to Stanley-Boyd in the still distant future.

Then again, it might not.

Much still hangs in the balance on the dual purpose gym/storm shelter idea, and grant consideration won’t be open until April 2023. Details were given by CESA 10 representative Tony Menard and LHB representative Kevin Holm.

“We’re working with Mr.

Koenig and Jordan Voss on a FEMA grant for a storm shelter,” Menard said of an additional option for the board to consider. Still in high-level thinking in terms of building, the storm shelter to be financed by FEMA grant would see a 10,000 square foot two-court gym built that could withstand winds from an EF4 tornado, otherwise defined as those in excess of 200 miles per hour.

In order to fully qualify for the FEMA grant, meanwhile, the gym would need to have plumbing, with the idea that it could double as a storm shelter during a severe weather event. The project would take into account the local population within a mile of the school on the north side of the tracks “You can’t go across the tracks for some reason on the grant,” Menard said of the grant limitations in terms of population spread. Before Menard and Holm could go back to Voss with specifics, they needed to know what the board was thinking with reference to size and other specifics. The grant would cover the structural space for the potential storm shelter, with the idea that it would then furnish relief in the immediate aftermath of severe weather. A base design is due by November if anything is to come of the storm shelter idea.

Covered as well by Menard and Holm at the August 22 school board meeting were plans the board had previously visited for a bus loop and middle school lockers rooms along with elementary remodel.

Presenting two options to the board, Menard and Holm were looking for how to proceed.

Option 1 called for the process to continue with a request for proposals (RFP) in September and October of this year with November approval, but also carried the baggage that the district might need to purchase its own air handler unit.

Option 2 avoided this, but only covered the bus loop and middle school locker rooms at present, holding off on the elementary remodel for later.

Upon discussion the board decided to go with the second of the two options presented, motion being made by Chad Verbeten and seconded by Ryan Lewallen. The school board will have its next monthly conversation meeting on September 19, with the regular school board meeting the following week, on September 26.

Both are open to the public.