Jay Blair, High School Principal, Dee Hohenshell representative for the Forman Valley Community Foundation, Todd Hellrigel, Midwest Central CUSD #191 Superintendent

Midwest Central High School receives $21,900 for new gymnasium lighting

[May 14, 2015]  MANITO - Midwest Central School District recently received a $21,290 grant from the Forman Valley Community Foundation for new gym lights. The District submitted a grant application for a high school gymnasium remodel consisting of three main items. Current insufficient lighting was requested to be upgraded to recommended standards. The bleachers were requested to be modified to have railings and walkways installed, thereby improving ADA access. The gym floor was be completely sanded and repainted.

The district was pleased to hear that they were the recipient of the grant to fund the lighting project. According to the district that was the greatest need. Current lighting is only 250w and most gyms have at least 400w lights. The new installation will include energy efficient high bay lights with occupancy sensors to reduce electrical consumption.

After receiving the check, the district offered the project to additional contractors that would be onsite for their high school air conditioning project this summer. To their surprise bids came back much lower than the original bids used in the grant submission process. The district offered to return the overage but asked the Foundation if they could apply the extra dollars to the bleacher modification project. The Foundation grant committee quickly agreed that the district should apply the extra funding to the bleachers. Hand railings and walkways will be retrofitted to the current bleachers which the district said has been a request of the community for several years.

District Superintendent, Todd Hellrigel, stated “As a result of this generous contribution, the community will notice a big difference when they enter our high school gym this fall and we’d like to thank the Forman Valley Foundation for considering our project.” The district plans to wait until the following summer to refinish the gym floor. With the addition of air conditioning to the gym they said they were advised it would be best to give the floor a chance to acclimate to the reduced humidity.

[Midwest Central CUSD # 191]