BYU-Idaho Radio · Madison School District Invites Community to Field House Open House
Madison School District #321 wants to celebrate, and it has invited the community to join in the fun. The celebration is for the opening of the new Bobcat Field House at Madison High School.
The field house is one of the final projects voters approved in 2017 as part of a $26.9 million bond. Other projects approved by 81.6% of the vote include 10 classrooms and two science labs at the high school; 4 classrooms each at Burton and Kennedy Elementary Schools; a new gym and parking lot upgrades at Lincoln Elementary School; a cafeteria remodel at Adams Elementary School; HVAC upgrades at Madison Middle School; a parking lot upgrade at Hibbard Elementary School; an auxiliary gym at the high school; a new football stadium, track and soccer field at the high school.
“I’m proud to be a Bobcat and I’m proud to be able to say, ‘Look what you can do with a good school board, with a superintendent with a vision and with a community that supports you,” said Brady Clawson, principal of Madison High School.
The 45,000 square foot field house was built by mostly local contractors, Clawson said. It includes a 21,580 square foot Matrix Turf – the same turf they have on the football field and that the Dallas Cowboys have in their stadium, according to Clawson; three indoor tennis courts, which can turn into 9 pickleball courts; nine outdoor tennis courts; a two-lane indoor track, two batting/golf netted cages; netting throughout the complex; 20 security cameras; bathrooms and a full-time security desk.
“Our athletes are extremely excited, also our P.E. teachers and P.E. classes are really excited as well to be able to come in and use this facility,” Clawson said.
The facility isn’t just for students. The community will have access before school and in the evenings. Community members can use the courts, the track and can schedule the turf. For example, Clawson anticipates the district’s pickleball league to use the courts.
“This is something that was deemed important by registered voters here in Madison and we agreed with you and we built it and we want you to use it,” said Jessica Goudy, spokeswoman for the district.
The district has invited the community to an open house on Thursday, Mar. 17 from 4 – 7 p.m. The building will be open to tour and test out. Goudy said there will be refreshments “as you leave, ‘cause no refreshments in the building, we are going to take stellar care of this,” Goudy said.
There will also be Madison Bobcat swag give-a-ways. You can put your name on raffle tickets and the district will pick more than 100 names on Friday and contact the winners.
“We’re excited to get people out here and show them that we are good stewards of the money that they trust us with, not just their children every day,” Goudy said.