TAHOKA ISD PROGRESS: New gym, fieldhouse project moves forward; school accepts donation of church building

Article Courtesy of Lynn County News

A new gymnasium and fieldhouse project is moving forward for Tahoka Independent School District, and TISD trustees voted to accept a property donation of the Tahoka Church of Christ building, in action taken at the Jan. 9 meeting of the Tahoka ISD Board of Trustees. Groundbreaking for a new gymnasium and fieldhouse for Tahoka ISD is expected to be held by the end of January, as the project moved to the next step with the Board of Trustees unanimously approving a guaranteed maximum price from Lee Lewis Construction for the two facilities. After the board approval, TISD Superintendent Dick Van Hoose signed a contract with Lee Lewis Construction Company for a guaranteed maximum price of $8,851,735 for both the gym and fieldhouse projects. Both projects are part of a bond project approved by TISD voters in 2019. Van Hoose told The News that groundbreaking ceremonies would take place soon, towards the end of January, at a 31- acre tract of land located northwest of the intersection of North 5th and Ave. P, where the new facilities will be erected. In other action, the Board voted unanimously to accept proper-ty given by the Tahoka Church of Christ, who formally closed their doors after final services on Sept. 29, 2019. The church facilities, including a large brick building housing a sanctuary, offices, classrooms and large fellowship hall, as well as surrounding parking area, was offered to Tahoka ISD to be used however best suits their purposes. “The Board did choose to accept the donation of property,” Supt. Van Hoose told The News. “There are lots of possibilities for repurposing that will be discussed at some point, including options such as moving the school daycare program there, administrative offices, testing facilities, or after-school program facilities. However, at this time, there are no immediate plans for using or remodeling the church building. Our focus at this time is on the gym and fieldhouse projects,” he explained. The remainder of the meeting was routine, with reports from campus principals Kelly Keith, Donnie Scott and Don Worth, Athletic Director Stephen Overstreet, and Special Education Co-Op Di-rector Brandi Parker. Monthly bills were also approved for payment. Trustees present for the meeting included Board President Clay Taylor, Doug Green, Banda Watt, Lea Swinford and Slate May. Trustees Jon Luna and Drew Stone were absent.