Republic School District cuts ribbon on $26 million athletic facility

Republic School District held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for their newest facility on Sept. 30. 
 
The high school expansion holds a full, 100-yard turfed football field along with a multitude of classrooms and spaces intended to enrich the extra-curricular and athletic opportunities of local students. 
 
In total, the new building cost more than $26 million according to Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jason Perkins. Perkins oversaw the construction of the building which has just been completed. 
 
The building was open to students at the beginning of the school year, but Sept. 30 was the first chance for the public to tour the inside. After a short ribbon cutting ceremony on the front steps of the building, locals were welcomed in to take a look at the new facilities. 
 
Indoors, the building boasts over 121,000 square feet of area and features expanded spaces for baseball, softball, JROTC, band, choir and wrestling on top of new classroom and a new weight room. 
 
Perkins said he worked with staff and students to determine which groups were in need of improved facilities. 
 
District Superintendent Tyler Overstreet said the finished product is even better than expected. 
 
“It’s awesome,” said Overstreet. “Far exceeded expectations, [I’m] just so thankful first and foremost to our community for their support and allowing us to pursue this project along with our board of education and their visionary thinking to see how a facility like this could serve our students and community for decades to come.”