Overton County Schools awarded a bid to modernize the Livingston Academy gym, the first major upgrade since its 1976 construction.
Director of Schools Kim Dillon said work from Midstate Construction on the $1.4 million-project is scheduled to begin on May 18 following the conclusion of graduation and awards ceremonies.
“The gym floor we’ve had issue after issue, after issue year after year, after year, so we continued to just piece it and do just small projects trying to work on it,” Dillon said. “So that in itself is huge and I mean we utilize the gym for lots of things district-wide.”
Dillon said the renovation will include a new gym floor, bleachers, and a divider wall as well as fresh paint for the walls. Dillon said the goal is to have the project finished by October 16.
“I mean the space is utilized a lot,” Dillon said. “I do think that it’s going to be safer. We’re going to have rails in all areas of the bleachers and the chairs so that’s going to be huge for games and things- any kind of activities that we have going on.”
Dillon said the divider curtain will allow boys and girls physical education classes to use the space at the same time. Dillon said the only existing elements staying in the gym are the lights and the scoreboard.
The girls’ volleyball team will likely play home games at a local church during the construction period, Dillon said.
“That’ll be different but once it’s up and going that’s going to be great,” Dillon said.
Dillon said the gym serves as a central location for the community, as well as graduations for Livingston Middle School and the TCAT. The facility also plays host to alumni dinners, career fairs and county-wide elementary school athletic tournament.
“We’re all very excited about it,” Dillon said.