Gym renovation delayed

The Freeman School District had anticipated the opening of its newly renovated high school gymnasium in December, but unsuitable soil underneath the footprint of the gym has pushed that opening back a few months.

Workers found that the soil could not bear the weight of the gym. They also found soil that had been contaminated by an old fuel tank. That soil had to be removed and replaced.

The construction is part of a $30 million project approved by voters in 2008. The approved bond was $19.5 million and the district expects $10.5 million in state matching funds to complete the work on the high school and elementary school.

Sergio Hernandez, the superintendent of Freeman School District, said despite the setbacks with the first phase of construction, the entire project is expected to be completed on time and within the budget.

The work on the gym is part of the first phase of construction which will modernize the gym, install new bleachers, make the building comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, complete a multipurpose room, shower and locker rooms, a choir and band room, a weight room and shop areas.

Athletes from Freeman are practicing and holding their home games at the Spokane Valley HUB.

Hernandez expects the gym to be completed in early May or sooner. The entire high school construction project should be finished Aug. 19, and the design of the elementary school was presented to the school board Jan. 14. The superintendant expects bids for that project to go out in July and to have contractors on the site by August.

“They mobilize fairly quickly,” Hernandez said.

St. Mary’s auction March 20

St. Mary’s Catholic School will host its 38th annual dinner and auction, “Live, Learn and Grow,” March 20 at the Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road.

A silent auction will kick off the event at 4:30 p.m. and will be followed with dinner and the live auction.

The evening will include raffles and dancing after the auction. Items up for bid include travel packages, a weekend ski getaway, golf trips, jewelry, dinner parties and sports memorabilia.

To look at the items on the block or make a donation to the event, visit stmarysspokane. maestroweb.com.

The event raises 10 percent of the school’s annual budget.

Tickets are $45 per person and table sponsorships are available.

For more information or to make a reservation, call (509) 924-4300, Ext. 205, or e-mail Peggy Clark at pclark@stmarys spokane.org.