A crane perched over the Gainesville High School campus gives residents the signal that construction on the campus has begun with the framework of a new CTE building shaping at the Rainey Street entrance.
But that’s not all that’s underway. Following the cement slab pour and creation of an elevator pit, the Gainesville City School Board navigated the plan once more to build the new CTE building, a new cafeteria and a new gym.
A newer gym, specifically, as there is already a “New Gym.” That lead council members to ask if the “Alumni Gym” name should be transferred to the “New Gym” when the newer gym is built.
There will still be two gyms on the property. The newest gym that will be built, and the “New Gym” built about twenty years ago. The newest gym is estimated to be built and ready to use in August of 2022.
“The idea was to continue the alumni name to whichever gym is our oldest,” said Superintendent Jeremy Williams. He said some board members felt strongly about the current Alumni Gym, and wanted the name to be portable, or, to have the name moved to a new building when the former is demolished.
Council member Kris Nordholz, the newest to the board, commented that he wasn’t so sure the portability of the name really mattered. He said he didn’t feel like the terminology of “Alumni Gym” was as emotionally resonating as the name of a well-loved alumnus or alumna who gave back to the school.
“I just want to make sure if we do rename the new, 20-year-old gym the Alumni Gym that it doesn’t prevent us from adding a person to it somewhere in the future,” said Nordholz during the meeting. He was assured by Board Chair Andy Stewart that regardless, the court and other locations in the building could be named after a worthy person if so decided.
The motion to move the name carried. Dr. Heather Ramsey was the only dissenting vote. She previously in the conversation suggested tabling the matter until it was closer to time.
The conversation comes after a “nostalgia walk” at the high school last weekend, allowing the community to see favorite spots on the campus one more time before changes were made.
And on Thursday, construction bids will open on the new middle school on McEver Road near Gould Road.
