Woodland's gym set for a summer renovation

Woodland's Warrior Dome is getting a renovation.

With features dating back to the 1950s, the district will spend $667,025 to have work done this summer to update the facility at no extra cost to property taxpayers. The work will be paid for from the district's share of the 1% school facilities sales tax in Livingston County.

Superintendent Ryan McGuckin said issues with the gymnasium started to become frequent. Nails were poking through the flooring, the bleachers were not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the bleachers didn't open and close at the same length anymore and the side baskets required a crank, which presented its own issues.

"It was time to replace it," McGuckin said.

In addition, McGuckin said the ceiling had not been painted since the 1970s.

The superintendent said the gymnasium is the face of the school for the community, and the district wanted something it could be proud of.

"Most of the community and people from out of town come through there," McGuckin said. "We want to have a place where people can go and be comfortable."

Some discussion about the color of the bleachers and the design of the floor took place Wednesday, but it wasn't set. The school's colors of red and black figure to be a big part of the look. McGuckin recommended the school move away from images of the Warrior head and spears.

The district initially has to take a loan for the work, but with the school facilities sales tax funds received, the district will pay roughly $220,000 per year from 2022 to 2027 to pay off the loans without raising property taxes. The district is using its school facilities sales tax funds from 2019 through 2021 to pay off a new parking lot that was added to the school.

McGuckin said the school also is gearing up to borrow nearly $6 million for heating, ventilation and air conditioning work to be done throughout the entire building. That work will be done in the summer of 2020 and will be paid for through loans until 2038. That project also will not raise the property tax rate.

2 insurance claims

The district had insurance claims of $50,000 for its agriculture room and for its fire alarm system. The ag room was damaged by a massive steam leak. The floor, walls, plaques, desks and computers, among other items, were destroyed. The flooring had to be replaced because asbestos was discovered. New equipment was bought.

Additionally, the change of temperatures from extreme cold to warm caused a build-up of moisture in a 5-year-old fire alarm system, causing it to malfunction. Firefighters had to be at the school for a two-week period while the system was replaced. The district has received full compensation for its insurance claim.