Culver Community School Superintendent Karen Shuman initiated discussion with the school board last week concerning the construction of a separate building to house the Culver Youth Club.
Shuman said this particular project has been a topic of discussion for several years. The Culver Youth Club is currently housed in the Culver Elementary School where the students utilize two classrooms. They also have access to the cafeteria and gymnasium when they are available.
There are 75 students who participate in the Youth Club.
Shuman noted that when a design was done for the transportation building two years ago a mock drawing was done that depicted a recreation building that the Youth Club could have used. The proposed estimated cost at that time was about $400,000 to be built in the same area as the Transportation Building, but if that building were to become reality, the Youth Club officials thought it would be better built on site of the Elementary School.
As talks have progressed, Shuman said there is an idea to update the playground at the Elementary School and move it closer to the library which would create a space for the Youth Club to build a building on the school’s campus.
Shuman stated, “So, at this point in time, there is a rough architectural design of a building with a cost in the $2 million ballpark – that is with the full amenity of a gym floor and locker rooms, a walking track, and four classrooms. The concept is that during the day it might be an E-Hub for businesses to use or stay-at-home adult workers could use it during the day. People could use it as a fitness center in the community – so there is going to be potentially some community outreach. They’ll be talking to the Redevelopment Commission to build this building with a campaign of donors.”
Shuman said a committee is being established to talk more about the potential project.
The school’s role in this project, if it comes to fruition, would be to provide a Memorandum of Understanding.
“Typically, this would require a MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] with them [Culver Youth Club] that states that it’s our property and we grant them the right to build on our property, and they have the right to use that facility that they build. If the Club is no longer, that facility would come to use then there might be a cost that is established in that MOU.”
Business Manager/Treasurer Casey Howard had questions about liability, insurance and maintenance costs. Board member Amy Pugh pointed out that it would be great for the public to visit this type of facility, but wondered about how it would work on school property.
There were no decisions made during the meeting. Shuman encouraged the board members to discuss the potential project with the Culver Youth Club board members and the director to gather more information as talks move forward.
