Konocti Unified School District celebrated a groundbreaking last week, for the new Lower Lake High School gymnasium. “This is a dream come true for me,” said athletic director Marty Udy, who added that the upcoming school year will be his 14th with the district.
School board members, construction team representatives and Lower Lake High School athletes and coaches took turns hefting golden shovels in a parking lot behind the district office.
The gymnasium, when finished, will occupy 23,415 square feet. Its 1,200-seat capacity will meet a 900-seat minimum requirement for hosting a North Central League I, Division IV playoff game.
“We can have playoff games hosted here and I hope there will be a lot of them,” said Udy.
A backdrop to the celebration was the Carl Delgado gymnasium, which, according to Superintendent Dr. Louise Nan, was “state of the art” when it first opened. Udy said the Carl Delgado gymnasium served LLHS well but the new gymnasium will be a source of pride not only throughout the district but throughout the county as well.
Nan spoke about the importance of educating the whole body and not just the mind. A report by Children Now that was sent to the Clear Lake Observer*American indicates that 81 percent of Lake County children never exercise; 32 percent of local children are overweight. The entire California County Databook can be read online at www.childrennow.org.
Funding for the new gymnasium comes from Measure G, which was approved by district voters in November 2004. Board president Carolynn Jarrett said she was “deeply grateful” for the community support.
Measure G authorizes $18.5 million in bonds for renovation, repair, modernization and construction costs within the Konocti district. The district authorized issuing its second series of bonds on Nov. 15, 2006.
Contact Cynthia Parkhill at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
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