Photos provided by Warren County schools - West gym is already looking quite different as work has begun to provide the Wizards a home basketball court.
Several Warren County Schools projects that were on the drawing board just a few weeks ago are now becoming much more visible.
Work is underway at West Elementary, demolition has started on the bleachers inside Charlie Dalton Gym and another athletic project is taking shape for Warren County Middle School softball.
The West Elementary gym project has moved into the construction phase after Director of Schools Dr. Grant Swallows told the Warren County School Board in September that demolition was scheduled to begin. The outside area around the gym is now roped off with construction equipment and restricted-access signs in place.
The project will renovate the existing gym and add new bleachers, finally giving West an opportunity to host elementary basketball games on campus. West has played its home games at Bobby Ray Elementary in recent seasons.
When Swallows updated the board Sept. 15, he said one of the biggest challenges during construction would be finding space for physical education classes. West principal Michelle Lewis had already developed a plan for PE while the gym is unavailable.
Charlie Dalton Gym will look a bit different when the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers tip off the season in November.
Another project has officially started at Warren County High School.
Following the completion of the Lady Pioneers' home volleyball schedule, crews began removing the old bleachers inside Charlie Dalton Gym. The demolition was expected to start before the end of September, with new bleachers and chairs scheduled to arrive around Oct. 5.
Swallows previously estimated the project would take approximately three weeks once work began, leaving a relatively small window to complete the renovation before basketball season.
The school system also has another athletic facility project taking shape in Centertown.
Work has been progressing for almost a year on a potential new home for Warren County Middle School softball. An area that was previously open grass has already been shaped into a softball diamond and plans call for fencing and additional improvements. Lights are also a possibility as the project continues.
The goal is for the site to eventually become the home field for the WCMS Lady Pioneers, potentially as early as the 2027 season.
Funding for the softball project is coming together from several sources, including capital project money, athletic funds, maintenance funds and private donations. Members of the WCMS coaching staff and other supporters have also been involved in pushing the project forward.
The activity comes as Warren County Schools continues working through a list of facility improvements.
Renovations to the Warren County Middle School gym are among the projects expected to be addressed in the future, while track projects remain on the school system's to-do list. Warren County currently does not have a track that can be used for home events for WCHS. The track surrounding Nunley Stadium has been used for practice for both teams, while WCMS has held limited events at the facility over the last few years.
The WCHS cafeteria expansion also remains under construction. Crews were digging footers for that project when Swallows gave his September update to the School Board.
While several projects remain on the list, the biggest change since that September update is easy to see. Work that was being discussed or scheduled just a few weeks ago is now underway at multiple Warren County Schools facilities.
