The Southern Boone School District will soon transform its current vocational agriculture (vo-ag) building into a new multipurpose facility designed to support a variety of student activities and athletic programs, including wrestling.
The space is becoming available as construction continues on the new vocational and agriculture wing on the north side of Southern Boone High School. That project is funded through the April 2024 $11.6 million no-tax-rate-increase bond issue approved by voters.
Once complete, the repurposed building will provide a dedicated practice and activity space for multiple programs and will also be available for use by middle school and high school physical education classes during the school day.
“For years, we’ve had programs sharing space and making the best of what was available,” said Superintendent Dr. Tim Roth. “This transition allows us to create a true multipurpose facility that better meets the needs of our students. It’s a great example of how we can maximize our existing spaces while continuing to invest in opportunities for kids.”
The new space will be especially impactful for the district’s wrestling program. In recent years, student-athletes have practiced in the middle school cafeteria, where they were required to roll out and tape mats before practice and roll them back up afterward.
“That daily setup takes time away from practice and puts extra wear on equipment,” Roth said. “Having a dedicated space for wrestling means more time focused on skill development and a better overall experience for our student-athletes.”
High School Head Wrestling Coach Lee Bradley said the new dedicated space will be a game-changer for the program.
“For a long time, our athletes have had to spend a significant part of practice just setting up and taking down mats,” Bradley said. “That’s time we can now reinvest into training, conditioning and helping our wrestlers improve.”
Bradley also emphasized the long-term impact on the program’s growth and sustainability.
“Having a consistent, dedicated space gives our program a sense of identity and pride,” he said. “It allows us to create a better practice environment, take better care of our equipment, and ultimately provide a stronger experience for our student-athletes from middle school through high school.”
The change will also free up the middle school cafeteria for additional uses, creating more flexibility for other programs such as middle school cheerleading and high school color guard and winter guard practices.
“Our gyms and cafeterias are busy venues that see a lot of use after school for practices and a variety of events,” Roth said. “Adding this multipurpose facility gives us more flexibility and helps ensure each program has the space it needs to be successful.”
“This is about creating opportunities across the board,” Roth added. “When one program gains a dedicated space, it opens doors for others. Ultimately, it benefits a wide range of students and activities throughout the district.”
The new vocational and agriculture wing remains on track for completion in time for the 2026–2027 school year.