The Dunlap District 323 school board just outside Peoria, Illinois, voted 5-to-2 Wednesday to approve the construction of a new athletic training facility, according to the meeting minutes and 25News Now.
Proposed floor plan (board presentation)A proposal for the 42,500-square-foot facility was presented to the board at its regular meeting on June 20. According to the presentation, the facility is needed because not only has the school added boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams but also
- The marching band can only practice when the football field is not in use by teams.
- Cheerleading teams practice in elementary schools, sometimes in hallways.
- The dance team practices in the hallway, rolling out mirrors every practice.
- Cross-country and track & field athletes run hallways at the high school in winter.
- The wrestling team practices in the balcony of the high school gym.
- Baseball and softball teams often cannot practice because of a muddy field.
- Middle schools currently must hold many practices before school.
The construction will cost no more than $8.5 million, according to the presentation, and will break ground this fall.
Superintendent Scott Dearman assured board members that the district has more than enough money in current reserves — $38 million — to pay for the facility, which will house three basketball courts, a 160-meter indoor track with pole vault and long jump, a dance room, an indoor golf simulator, and a small training room.
