GCHS gym addition project nears completion

GRUNDY CENTER – After over a year of construction, the long-awaited practice gym at Grundy Center High School is finally nearing completion.
At last week’s school board meeting, Superintendent Jerry Schutz reported that the project is currently running on time, and under budget. He said he’s anticipating the crew will be finished with most of the work by mid-July, and that the gym will be ready for use in time for school this August.
“Right now, they’re working on putting the finishing touches on everything,” Schutz said. “They just finished laying the gym floor, now they’re going to start sanding and painting and sealing it. That’s really the last major thing they have to work on, besides smoothing the roadway out back and doing the landscaping and that kind of thing.”
If the project is finished under budget, as is planned, Schutz says the school will use the extra money for infrastructure improvements in the areas of HVACC, electric, and water mains.
Once the gym is completed, Schutz says there will likely be a grand opening of sorts to help welcome community members to the facility, though there has been no formal event set so far.
“We’re really excited to get this gym done and to start using it,” Schutz said. “There’s a little less seating space because it’s just a practice gym, but [the way it’s set up] makes it perfect for hosting tournaments and stuff like that, so we’re hoping that’s something we can do to get people in to see our facilities.”