Kiwanis hears school buildings project update
Following Lee Leiker's presentation Monday about the new building projects for USD #408, Marion Kiwanis Club members were excited and in anticipation of their completion.
Superintendent Leiker explained the school board went through a difficult process of trimming the original budget for a new gymnasium/indoor pool complex and auditorium.
"Even though we scaled back, we still have more than what was presented during the bond election," Leiker said. "The board did a great job of following through with what was promised to voters.
Among those promises were a top-loading gym, walking track around the top perimeter of the gym, an indoor pool, and an auditorium that could seat more than 500 people.
The project grew about 40 percent, Leiker said, from the beginning to the current design.
"Even though it took more time, we have a much better product," Leiker said.
The school district has sent the designs to the state architect and is awaiting approval. The project could begin as soon as mid-December. The auditorium probably will take eight months and the gym and pool, 12. All will be completed at the same time.
A signature entryway will greet patrons as they enter the 547-seat auditorium.
"People will go 'wow'," Leiker said.
Currently, one class room serves all vocal and instrumental music classes at Marion High School and Middle School. An additional class room is included in the footprint of the auditorium for vocal music.
Elevated seating in the main area will allow a clear view of the stage.
A minimum of 2,000 seats were required in the gym in order to host sub-state events.
"The more seats, the deeper the hole in the ground for the gym," Leiker explained. It also meant a shorter side wall height which also reduced costs.
By reconfiguring the gymnasium, and determining that 2,000 seats were not needed for every event in the gym, there will be 1,500 "permanent" seats with an additional 500 seats available for special events.
All seats can be folded back to allow practice courts and enable both courts for tournaments.
The plastic bleachers will have backs to them on the home side.
The current MHS gymnasium has the capacity of 1,100 people.
A limited-use elevator will enable all to utilize the basement which will house locker rooms and a wrestling room.
A commons area will separate the gym and indoor pool. Windows will allow people to view the pool area from the commons area.
Even though a $100,000 slide has been eliminated, space has been allotted for the item should the city decide to purchase and install one in the future.
The area of the zero-entry area in the pool was reduced to allow an eight-lane pool.
