SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
PRETTY PRAIRIE, Kan. — More than a year after voters approved a $7.7 million bond issue, Pretty Prairie USD 311 is nearing the finish line on a district-wide construction and renovation project that includes long-overdue upgrades to safety, infrastructure and athletic facilities.
Approved in May 2023, the bond has funded improvements at all three district buildings. The elementary school received a new secure entrance, windows, and roof. Similar upgrades were made at the middle and high school campus, including an updated science lab, a renovated shop area, and repairs to the auditorium ceiling. The most dramatic change is the construction of a new gymnasium, an expansion that transforms Pretty Prairie’s athletic footprint.
Construction on the new gym began in September 2024, adding approximately 6,300 square feet to the shared middle/high school campus. While slightly behind schedule, the gym is now close to completion and expected to be ready in time for the upcoming volleyball season.
For the first time in school history, Pretty Prairie will have a fully climate-controlled gymnasium, complete with both heating and air conditioning, an amenity long missing in the old facility.
“This is night and day compared to what we had before,” said Matt Goering, newly named principal and boys basketball coach. “That old gym had character, but it also had 110-degree practices in August and zero chance of hosting major events. Now we have something the whole community can be proud of.”
The previous gym, known for its tight quarters and use of a restraining line on the court during throw-ins, will remain in place and be used as an auxiliary gym. The restraining line, a temporary boundary used to ensure adequate space for inbound plays, was a necessity due to the gym’s limited dimensions. That setup meant Pretty Prairie was ineligible to host KSHSAA postseason play in sports like basketball and volleyball.
That will now change.
With a new gym capacity just shy of 1,000 and full-sized courts, Pretty Prairie can finally host KSHSAA sub-state tournaments and larger events. District officials say they’ve already submitted a bid to host sub-state this winter, and a new January basketball tournament co-hosted with Fairfield will take full advantage of the upgraded facilities.
“When the Burrton Invitational went away, we knew there was an opportunity,” said Ryan Anderson, the district’s athletic director. “This gives us the chance to start our own tournament tradition, and now we have the facilities to back it up.”
The gym includes modern technology, electronically operated basketball goals and divider curtains, all controlled via tablet, and will allow multiple teams to practice simultaneously, easing scheduling challenges that plagued previous seasons.
“It’s much different than the old days when we had to hand-crank everything up,” said Jon Mead, the district’s director of facilities and transportation. “Now, just a press of the iPad button and the goals come up and go down. So it’s much nicer.”
“Last year, we only had one gym,” Goering added. “Practices would start at 5:30 a.m. and go late into the night. With three usable spaces now, including the old gym as an auxiliary, that all changes. Kids can practice right after school and go home to their families.”
The final bond-funded items, completion of the gym, interior paint work, and the construction of a breezeway connecting the middle and high school buildings, are expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
Superintendent Ashley Anderson said seeing the vision come to life has been deeply rewarding.
“We’ve gone from a gym with a restraining line to a facility that’s state-tournament ready,” she said. “It’s more beautiful and more exciting than I could have imagined, and it’s going to serve our kids and our community for generations.”
With structural improvements complete, safety measures in place, and the gym nearly finished, district leaders say Pretty Prairie is entering a new chapter, one built on pride, accessibility, and opportunity.
“This isn’t just a gym,” Goering said. “It’s a statement about who we are and where we’re going.”