New Bleachers installed at Lawrence County High School

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

Lawrence County High School is sporting brand new bleachers in the top tier of the gymnasium, a project that was initiated by school board member Susie Ward several months ago during a school board meeting.

Board member Maddlene Roberts was in agreement while other board members were more laid back as Lawrence County Superintendent Katie Webb wanted to look into researching grants to fund the project.

The bleacher replacement according to Webb was a necessity because they had been notified by the state fire marshal after Ward’s recommendation for new bleachers, that they were outdated and at some point, were going to be required to be replaced.

Although grants were not used to obtain the cost, Webb said the money did not come from General Funding but did come from a construction fund that they are allowed to use for updating schools such as roofing, bleachers and other such renovations keeping schools functional.

Webb said that the bleachers at the high school were the original bleachers that were in the gym since the school was built in 1977.

An invoice for materials from Interkal Spectator Seating Worldwide for the bleachers came at a cost of $174,382.00 for the upper bleacher replacement project and with the installation invoice added, made the total cost of the project over $300,000.00, Webb told The Big Sandy News.

“The project started in March just before Spring Break,” said Webb. “It was completed the first of May. Other than some touch ups and painting the project is done.”

Board member Ward has also mentioned she is interested in seeing an elevator installed in the gym in the future.