Much of the work has been completed, but more still remains on the Alumni Court Project at El Dorado High School.

This is the final year of fundraising for the project. Currently, $117,000 has ben donated/pledged.

The funds they have already raised have allowed for the completion of several projects at the high school.

Among those improvements was the athletic training room.

“This used to be nothing,” said Gary Melcher, project coordinator. “It was the ISS room.”

Now it includes two treatment tables, which were donated and they had them apolstered. They also added two taping tables, a refrigerator, water carts and storage cabinets with countertops.

“All of the cabinets came out of the old science pod,” Melcher said.

The walls also were painted in there. They will still be adding an exercise bike in that room to finish it off.

They also remodeled the girls’ athletic locker room.

They removed lockers and their concrete bases that were down the center of the room.

Frank Wise, former art teacher, painted EHS logos on the floor where the lockers had been. They also painted the walls and added a white board.

“It really opened it up,” Melcher said.

They also painted the walls in the boys’ athletic locker room and did some painting on the walls in the hall and gym, with more still to do.

Other improvements were made in the swimming pool area. Non-slip flooring was put in around the pool and the old carpet was removed. Wise painted swim murals on the wall to brighten it up and a bulletin board and white board were added. In addition an 10x10-foot team record board was added.

Other changes were made in the coaches/officials’ dressing room where 10 custom lockers were made and they painted the walls. The walls also were painted in the physical education locker rooms.

In the gym, 36 padded chairs were added for basketball players and coaches; there is a storage caddy for new chairs; they painted the hallways and walls; and nameplates were sold for the chair backs.

In the multi-purpose room, which is also the wrestling room currently, they put down rubber protective flooring and wall mats covering three walls. Wise also painted a 10x10-foot Wildcat mascot in there. There also are eight plyometric boxes and six lifting platforms.

“We will put two indoor batting cages in here,” Melcher added.

The old training room is now a video room for the coaches. It includes a meeting table with six chairs, new carpet, a projection screen and video projector, four white boards, storage cabinets with countertops and technology hardware.

Even with all of these projects, there are several left to be completed.

Those projects planned for the next nine months include: two indoor batting nets for baseball and softball in the multi-purpose room, new carpeting in the officials/coaches’ room, painting of the wall around the top of the gym, recognition donor board, recognition board for all former All-Leage athletes, additional weights and weight equipment, painting of the new weight room and upgrades to the locker rooms.

“Many EHS alums and supports have taken an interest in this project and have been generous in their support,” said Brad Long, project coordinator. “Over 250 individuals and six graduation classes have contributed. The classes of 1966 and 1997 have each donated $1,000 and because of their sizable donation, they will have their class year painted on the new gym floor.”
That floor will be installed during the summer of 2009.

The EHS classes of 1946, 1952, 1967 and 1968 also made contributions.

“The project is nearing completion with $43,000 left to reach the original goal of $160,000,” Long said.

One popular way of contributing has been through the naming of the new chair backs in the gym. They have sold over 450 seats to have an individual recognized with a nameplate for a $100 donation. There are less than 20 chairs left. Anyone who would like to purchase a chair back can still do so by contacting Melcher at 322-7954 or Long at 321-5228.

“I would guess when the school year begins next year, they will be coming into a finished product as far as we’re concerned,” Melcher said.