ECISD may demolish old gym
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

ECISD school trustees will ponder the fate of the old high school practice gymnasium when trustees meet Tuesday night.

On the board's agenda for that regular monthly meeting is an item asking the board to approve a change order to its just-beginning high school science building renovations, a move that would allow for demolition of the old gymnasium.

In February, trustees unanimously agreed to accept El Campo's Polasek Construction $3.115 million proposal for upgrades and expansion of the high school science building.

Those renovations should bring the facility up to modern building code standards, adding ADA features such as an elevator and boys and girls ADA-compliant bathrooms on both floors, and adding two classroom/labs where the greenhouse and large satellite dish are now located.

The barrel-vaulted practice gym - built in 1952 and featuring a cross-hatched wooden ceiling - lacks air conditioning, has insufficient restrooms and is not ADA compliant. It was replaced by the new practice gym which opened in October.

RWS Architects last August suggested the board considering relocating its under-sized cafeteria and kitchen to the old gym, keeping the basic arched shape of the building but adding air conditioning and extending space for a new kitchen at one end of the building. The current circa-1965 cafeteria still features its original chairs, tables and kitchen appliances. Construction costs to convert the gym to a cafeteria would be $2.9 million, RWS said in August.

Other items on the board's Tuesday agenda include an interlocal agreement with Rice Consolidated ISD and a review of proposed capital improvement projects for next school year.

The El Campo Independent School District board meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 in the ECISD board room, 700 W. Norris. Meetings are open to the public.