Columbia Independent School (CIS) announced, Tuesday, plans to break ground for a new Athletics and Arts Center, this spring.
CIS wants to build a new multi-purpose facility to allow students to explore sports, performing arts and, even, receive tutoring for academics. The new center will be available for kids of all ages. CIS currently carries curriculums from junior-kindergarten to 12th Grade.
The school made this announcement after raising $1.3 million in funding from their campaign titled, “Building Excellence.” Most of the funds have come from private donors in the Columbia area. The funding campaign continue until construction for the new center begins.
Adam Dubé, CIS Head of School, said construction is to begin in either April or May of this year. Dubé said the new Athletics and Arts Center is going to benefit all CIS’ students.
“It’s, actually, going to be built for all kids of all ages,” Dubé said. “The performing arts is a part of our curriculum from the earliest grade. So, our students, actually, have a performing arts class that they can start participating in beginning in junior-kindergarten.”
Dubé said the opportunity for students to participate in the performing arts will be available all the way until they reach graduation. Dubé, also, said the gymnasium will help students on the athletics side.
“We, actually, have enough P.E. classes, right now,” Dubé said. “If we had a gymnasium tomorrow, we can, pretty much, schedule it for every hour of the day,”
Laura Knoesel, Elementary P.E. Teacher, said she is thrilled to hear that the school is building an Athletics and Arts Center this spring.
“I think it will really help kids have a place to play for a school and a predictable place to have practice,” Knoesel said. “We can have our own home games, here. I think that school spirit is born and bred in a gymnasium.”
Knoesel said it will be great for kids to have a large area to work out in and play sports inside, regardless of the weather. She, also, said it will be great to have the community rally around their team.
CIS will set an official ground breaking date once the “Building Excellence,” campaign ends.