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Board asks county to combine funds to build new athletic facility after Brevard High old gym closed to students
Summary
The school board voted to ask the county to combine bond and county cash funds to replace Brevard High School's old gym with a new indoor athletic facility that would include space for a wrestling program. The old gym remains closed to students while architects and contractors assess structural and roofing options.
Transylvania County Schools board members voted to ask the county commissioners to combine bond funds and county cash funds to construct a new indoor athletic facility on the Brevard High School site that includes a space for a wrestling program.
The board took the step after hearing an update that the old Brevard High gym is closed to students because of structural concerns. Facilities staff and county engineers have recommended not allowing students in the old gym while architects and contractors assess and plan repairs or replacement. The superintendent and facilities director described several options, including replacing the roof and main beams, reconstructing the roof with engineered steel beams or demolishing the building and installing a pre-engineered metal-frame gym.
Why it matters: The old gym's structural questions touch multiple bond-funded line items and county capital dollars. Board members and staff said combining available funds into a single project could allow construction of a new, modern indoor athletic facility that would serve multiple sports and activities rather than repeated short-term repairs.
Details presented at the meeting
- Closure and scope: The district's facilities director said the old gym has beam and roof issues and that county engineers and the district asked that students not occupy the building for probably the remainder of the school year. Adults may use the space for limited, supervised activities while work continues.
- Cost estimates and bond line items: Board members referenced existing bond allocations of roughly $1.06 million for roof/renovation line items and a county-held cash allocation identified for a wrestling facility; staff said initial estimates for full roof replacement and related repairs could exceed earlier budget assumptions and that a full replacement with beam work could approach or exceed earlier estimates (discussed figures ranged from about $1.06 million to higher, depending on scope). Staff also said replacing glulam beams with curved steel I-beams could lengthen service life, and that demolition plus a prefabricated building may be an alternative.
- Motion and vote: The board approved a motion requesting that the county combine the bond funds dedicated to the old-gym project with county cash funds earmarked for a pre-engineered wrestling facility and to provide any additional funding necessary to construct a new athletic facility that includes space for wrestling. The board asked the superintendent to present the proposal to the county commission for consideration and to provide detailed cost estimates and scope options.
- Next steps: The board said the joint committee established for bond management (the Braun project committee) and administration should refine cost estimates, consult with DPI on instructional-use approval if required, and coordinate with county staff on funding and demolition/construct options. The administration and facilities staff will report back with cost estimates and proposed project scopes.
