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Superintendent pitches ‘Bolt’ health and wellness center; board unanimously approves fundraising campaign
Summary
Superintendent Doctor Minnie presented plans for a 45-by-100-foot 'Bolt' Health and Wellness Center at Gilmer County High School, estimated to cost $500,000–$750,000, and the board unanimously approved a motion to begin community fundraising and grant-seeking. The initiative will target student fitness and community use and relies primarily on donations and grants.
Superintendent Doctor Minnie presented the Bolt Health and Wellness Center, a proposed fitness and community-use facility at Gilmer County High School, and the board voted to begin a district-led fundraising campaign.
The superintendent told the board the center — a proposed 45-by-100-foot block building sited in the high school’s lower parking lot — would include double-sided free-weight stations, a turf area for class and team activities, cardio equipment, two locker rooms with showers and a classroom-capable side for community programs. “Power up the Bolt,” Doctor Minnie said as she introduced mockups and a multi-tier sponsorship plan.
Why it matters: Board members said the facility could expand athletic training, provide supervised community fitness opportunities and serve as space for PE classes and wellness programs. The board’s approval to pursue fundraising gives the ad hoc committee and district staff authority to solicit grants, local business sponsorships and individual donations to cover construction and operation costs.
Details and funding: Doctor Minnie outlined a multi-pronged fundraising approach that includes corporate “Titan” sponsorships, smaller patron donors with a $10 “buy a cubic foot” option and grant applications. She estimated construction costs “somewhere between 500 and 750,000” and said the district will pursue available grants such as a Parkersburg-area foundation opportunity she said can provide up to $20,000. Board members discussed keeping the design one story to avoid sprinkler and two‑story code costs.
Board action: A board member moved to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to proceed with the fundraising campaign; another seconded the motion and the chair called the voice vote. The motion carried unanimously. The board did not commit district construction funds at this meeting; the approved motion authorizes community fundraising and grant efforts.
What’s next: District staff will pursue grant applications, outreach to local businesses and community partners and report back to the board with fundraising progress and any requests for district financial commitments or formal procurement decisions.
