Monroe Local approves schematic submission for new high school; trustees discuss batting cages and multiuse spaces
Summary
Board approved the program-of-requirements and schematic design phase submission for the new high school, while members discussed including foundational work for indoor batting cages or multiuse practice space and trade‑offs with a wrestling room and budget constraints.
The Monroe Local Schools Board voted Dec. 15 to approve the program‑of‑requirements and schematic design phase submission for the district's new high school — a procedural step administration said does not finalize design or lock the district into those elements.
During discussion, a trustee suggested adding foundational work on the side of the building facing the baseball diamond to support future indoor batting cages or a small multiuse training area for agility and sprint work. "Even if it's just the foundational work for indoor batting cages...that could be dual use," the trustee said, noting potential benefits for multiple teams during colder months.
Administration responded that the batting‑cage option already exists as an alternate in the current plans and said one option is repurposing planned wrestling and weight‑room adjacencies so the wrestling program could double its practice space while converting the current wrestling/weight room into an indoor practice area. Trustees also discussed seeking private donors for additions that exceed the core budget.
The board approved the submission by roll call. Administration emphasized the approval is an intermediate step in the design process and that final decisions and costs will be determined as the design team develops options and pricing.
