Shiner Catholic School currently working on gym renovations

  • Interior of St Paul Gym
    Interior of St Paul Gym
  • Pictured is the exterior of the St. Paul gym, which is currently undergoing renovations including new windows and new flooring.
    Pictured is the exterior of the St. Paul gym, which is currently undergoing renovations including new windows and new flooring.
  • Work has also begun on the new roof of the high school.
    Work has also begun on the new roof of the high school.

    Shiner Catholic Schools has been working hard on making some much needed changes to their gymnasium. 
    “These renovations are going to allow us to just have a new renovated space not only for our school, but for also the kids of the parish that use the space for CCD and also different events for the community,” Shiner Catholic School Principal Neely Yackel said. 
    The gym renovations for the Shiner Catholic School have been in discussion for quite some time. Last year, they were informed that the roofs of the gym, dining hall, and high school needed to be replaced and that the roofs were no longer insurable.  
    “We’ve talked about doing this for years and this is coming out of necessity,” Yackel said. “There was a leaking roof and we had to get that fixed, so that’s what initially prompted the whole project. The Catholic Church is funding the whole entire project. The estimated cost is over $1.5 million.”
    The school has some money saved from “rainy day funds.” At this time, they are not having a capital campaign to raise money, however, there may be a campaign for when it is time to restore the interior of the church. The school wants to thank the dedication and focus of their finance and building board. They are welcoming donations from the public, but it is not needed.
    In addition to the roof replacements, the gym floor also needed to be replaced. The floor itself was original to the gym and it could no longer be sanded.
    The windows are the original ones installed during construction in 1951, and school coordinators noticed leaks. The panes were falling out with every storm.
    Due to the scope of this project, it was also agreed that the time had come to finally air condition the gym as well.
    “I’m excited just because we haven’t had air conditioning and it’s been an issue with our families through the years,” Yackel said. 
    These renovations started on March 11 and are expected to be completed in late July just in time for the beginning of volleyball practice. 
    This is the first of some renovations that will be occurring at Shiner Catholic School.
    “There is a master plan of more renovations,” Yackel said. “With the economy, and the way it is right now, we’re trying to be fiscally responsible. That means that extra renovations will come with time.”