Move allows for FEMA grant application, annual budget hearing set for Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.

It was just a grant application, but not for that unimportant.

Meeting Monday, Sept. 26 in the high school library, the Stanley-Boyd School Board voted for a three-station gym to potentially take root on the west side of the school, just off the library. Motion was made by Chad Verbeten, and seconded by Denise Hoffstatter. The low end of the asyet hypothetical project list has been estimated at $11.85 million for a low end, with a high end estimate of $12.75 million, not including bathrooms and other amenities. Part of the reason for that cost is the special requirements of a storm shelter, in terms of the level of over engineering required.

With nothing set in stone as of yet, the move means that the district can now apply for a FEMA grant in hopes of building a possible storm shelter. Pending grant applica tion and if accepted it would mean restructuring the school owned road that runs alongside the building on the west, for sight lines. Before the vote was taken on the shelter

there was plenty talk about.

“What I really need from you tonight is where you want the storm shelter to be,” district superintendent Jeff Koenig told the Board Monday. Three basic options were presented: one on the space now occupied by the bus loop off the elementary school, another to the south of the current library and roughly approximating the current high school gym in size, and a third to the west, approximately 1.5 times the size of the current high school gym.

All things considered, the west side option was chosen. If built, the gym/shelter would be topped with concrete so the roof doesn't blow off in a storm, while the steel trusses would be four foot on center, among other details. Board member Chad Verbeten summed things up.

“If we went with the storm shelter it would be a big cement cube," he said of the reality. With any grant award still months away, there was more to talk about.

Not yet officially but closing fast with a budget hearing scheduled for Oct. 24, is the district levy. Currently estimated at $5.78 per $1,000 in property value, Koenig said the rate was likely to go up as the numbers fluctuate between now and the budget hearing. As it stands the total school tax levy is estimated at $2.572403 million for the coming year, while enrollment on the three year average is 1,076, reimbursement calculated at $10,000 per student.

In the meantime, mark those calendars. Make a Difference Day as sponsored by the Student Council is scheduled for Oct. 22, with students fanning out across the community to help out.

A schematic of the school from LHB Architects with the top facing east. Prior thinking was to put the storm shelter/gym in the bus loop area, the board voted Monday to locate a potenital storm shelter off the west side of the building (blank rectangle), with any such storm shelter pending a successful FEMA grant and far off.Image from board packet.