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Borgia Seeks Input on Building Project
By Susan Miller, Missourian Staff Writer
06/24/2009
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St. Francis Borgia Regional High School is testing the waters on whether to embark on a building project which would include a large multipurpose facility with a practice gym and an outdoor eight-lane regulation track.

Officials of the co-ed Catholic school are holding public meetings to gather input and support for the project. The first meeting was scheduled for Tuesday night and another is planned for Monday, July 13, at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

"We first conducted a feasibility study in the summer of 2008 and the response was very positive, but then the economy fell apart so those plans were put on hold," said George Wingbermuehle, school president.

"We don't know if the economy has recovered enough to move forward, but we thought it was time to revisit the study and seek a broader audience for input," he said.

The first feasibility study was sent out to specific individuals. Tuesday's meeting and the one in July are open to all Borgia supporters, Wingbermuehle said.

"We want to know what people think - whether it's possible at this time or not," he said. "It will probably be something we do in phases. If that's the case, the outdoor track would likely be the first phase."

Currently, the Borgia track team cannot host any home events because its six-lane track does not meet state regulations.

"Not only is it disappointing that we can't have any home track events, but our kids are practicing on a track that doesn't meet regulation," said Wingbermuehle, noting that about 75 to 80 students are involved in the track program.

The proposed multipurpose building would house a gym, mezzanine walk/run track, restrooms and a large open space that could be used for a variety of purposes.

The building would be erected behind the theater and adjacent to the football field.

"The gym would be used for practices and lower level games," Wingbermuehle said. "The top level of the gym would open to the football field which would be ideal for the cheerleaders, dance team and drum line to use for practice."

With only one gym currently on campus, scheduling for all of the sports activities has become somewhat of a nightmare, Wingbermuehle said, and practices often run until 9:30 or 10 p.m. on many nights to meet all extracurricular needs.

"That's not good for sports or any of the activities and it's not good for academics," he said. "There's been talk of expanding into wrestling, but there's no way we could do that right now. There is simply no room.

"In this day and age, having a practice gym and other large spaces has become a necessity in order to remain competitive," Wingbermuehle said. "We also don't want to hurt academics."

People attending the public meetings will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. School officials also will explain the project and show renderings of the proposed expansion.

Wingbermuehle said Harriet Sallaberry, director of advancement, is spearheading this latest study, along with the school advancement board.

"Ultimately the board will decide whether we should move forward or hold off longer," he said.

A decision is expected to be made by September, he added.

Washington Engineering and Architecture is the architect for the project.


©Washington Missouri 2010

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Reader Comments
Added: Tuesday June 30, 2009 at 03:21 PM EST
"Need" vs "Want"
I was truly disgusted and concerned by this article. We have catholic elementary schools who are struggling to keep their doors open with loss of enrollment, prior teacher salary increases & insurance costs. These same schools are assisting the "Regional" high school in keeping their tuition down by supporting their fundraisers, capital campaigns, and funds provided to the Diocese. How seriously can they revisit this study now when people are still struggling to bounce back from the economy or just even fighting to keep their own elementary schools to stay open. Is this a "need" or a "want"? What are the projections for the upcoming years for enrollment to justify this building project? You don't have to keep up with every other schools extracirricular activities to be a quality "educational" program. I survived with the basics.
Alumni, Marthasville, MO

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