It’s not a skyscraper.
But the $11 million Aromas School gymnasium, which is nearly
finished, is the biggest building in the agricultural town of about
3,000 residents.
Armoas – It’s not a skyscraper.
But the $11 million Aromas School gymnasium, which is nearly finished, is the biggest building in the agricultural town of about 3,000 residents.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Mike Dorney, athletic director for the school. “We’ve always had to borrow gyms for basketball and volleyball to have a place to practice. This is wonderful.”
Construction on the gym started in June and will be finished this month, just in time for the school’s eighth graders to have their graduation ceremony in the new building.
“It’s going to be a beautiful addition to the school,” said Principal Ercilia Zavala.
The 10,000-square-foot gym – touted as the biggest building in Aromas – will be used for physical education, basketball and volleyball and also has a stage for assemblies and student performances.
But it will be more than just an addition to the school, it will be a focal point for the entire community.
“I don’t know officially if it’s the biggest,” Dorney said. “But I drive through town, and I don’t see anything that comes close.”
With the building almost complete, school officials decided it needed a mascot and gave students the opportunity to make an artistic contribution to the new gym.
The school held a contest giving fourth through eighth graders a chance to design the school’s bulldog mascot that will appear on the building. A sixth grade girl won the contest. The bulldog she drew has floppy ears, a smirk and a diamond collar. The design is painted on two of the gyms’ walls and on the floor.
Built with money raised through a bond measure passed by the district’s voters in 2002, school officials hope that the gym will also act as a community gathering place.
“I think that’s what our community needs here,” Dorney said. “It was built by the community with their tax dollars. It is a community building.”
“I’m hoping the community will become involved in the gym, and that it becomes the hub of the community,” Zavala said.
Mark Boos, spokesperson for the Aromas Home and School Club, said there has already been talk about forming adult volleyball and basketball leagues that will use the new gym for practices and games.
“(The gym) is a huge benefit for the whole community,” he said. “It gives the kids a place to play indoors during inclement weather. It provides something for kids to do, a place where adults and kids can get together.”
While the bond that was passed in 2002 paid for the gym’s construction, it did not cover the cost of equipping the building.
During a recent fundraiser, the Aromas Home and School Club raised more than $15,000, part of which will go toward purchasing basketballs, volleyballs and other equipment.
Also, the Aromas Eagles, a fraternal organization in the community, is donating $6,000 to purchase equipment for the gym, Boos said.
“This community is really good when it comes to helping kids,” he said.
Luke Roney covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
