Demand Grows for Gym Space at Sevastopol

A youth basketball coach says momentum is building for a possible referendum to construct an extra gymnasium space at Sevastopol school.

One Mighty Pioneers coach, Justin Borkovetz, told the school board last month that there’s far more demand than available time slots for use of the elementary school gym, which also is reserved many times for activities or productions on the stage within the gym.

Practices for fourth- and fifth-grade basketball teams, which are not affiliated with the school, sometimes get over at 9 pm, he said. One game didn’t end until after 10 pm, and children were not back home until 10:30, Borkovetz said.

“We’re interested in starting a process of adding another gym,” Borkovetz said, adding that coaches at other grade levels find difficulty getting court time as well. “The biggest issue is gym availability.”

Borkovetz said the boys locker room is cramped, and the girls locker room has no lockers and is used for storage. 

Borkovetz said there’s considerable support from parents and residents for more space, and they can make a more-detailed presentation to the board in February. He said the time is right to correct the issue, and he noted that neighboring districts including Gibraltar and Southern Door are in the process of adding large practice facilities to meet similar demand. 

Borkovetz also suggested that a new facility could double as a community fitness and activity space. 

“We will have that on the February agenda,” board member Lisa Bieri said regarding the item for discussion.

The district received voter approval in November 2018 to demolish 1924 and 1946 portions of the school and build new additions for $25.1 million. Greater reconstruction plans, including but not limited to the addition of more gym space, were dropped the winter prior to the successful referendum.