Diggin' the new digs

The ongoing oil boom has done more than just boost the West Texas economy.

It has helped the real estate market, provided jobs and helped area schools.

With the influx of money into towns throughout the Permian Basin, schools have been passing bonds and doing much-needed repairs to athletic facilities and school buildings.

“I think that is the reason so many schools are trying to pass the bonds,” Monahans head football coach Mickey Owens said, “because the oil is at a high rate. We weren’t the only ones that have passed bonds in the last year or a year and a half.”

Monahans put in field turf to replace its old grass field. Burleson’s Texas Sports also resurfaced the Loboes tracks at the high school and junior high.

Monahans also built a new training room, a new girls locker room while converting its old weight room into an indoor practice area and building a new weight room.

All said, more than $2 million was spent to update the Monahans athletic facilities.

“This kind of started before I got here,” Owens said. “It was some things we really needed track-wise. Both tracks were in really bad shape.

“In the long run (turf) would save money on maintenance and water and mowing it. They figured it would be economically better to put the turf in.”

The upgrades have become a source of pride for the town.

“The community will really enjoy it,” Owens said. “When they have friends in town they take them by. We have had a steady group of people come by to see how far along we are.

“When you upgrade your football program it is exciting because football is so huge.”

Monahans isn’t the only school to upgrade its field. Pecos put in field turf two years ago and Seminole is planning on doing so after the season.

The benefits extend beyond saving money, though. Facilities with field turf can create money, also.

“We haven’t hosted a playoff game since Andrews and Denver City put in turf,” Seminole head football coach Chris Burtch said.

The Seminole ISD is doing more than putting in turf, however.

It also is building a new softball complex, putting in new high school tennis courts, replacing four charter buses and renovating its indoor athletic facility.

“The extra things, like a new fine arts center and athletics was an added bonus to the bond because the economy is booming,” Burtch said.

Perhaps the biggest improvements to any school in the state, though, are in Andrews.

The Class 3A school has nearly completed a state-of-the-art facility that will aid the athletics programs and beyond.

The building, which overlooks the Mustang Bowl, certainly appears to be one of the best in the state at the high school level.

“Andrews has always wanted to have the best in facilities and academics and athletics,” head football coach Blaine Springston said. “They have always wanted to provide the best they have. The opportunity was there and so they took advantage of it.

“They are very progressive thinkers in this community.”

Andrews has often led the way in improvements, putting in field turf in 2003 before it became the norm.

The new fieldhouse features two swimming pools, one for diving and one for competitive swimming. There is a new gymnasium which seats nearly 2,000, five dressing rooms for football, a training room, a basketball dressing room and a girls athletic facility.

The 100,000 square foot building also has a 1,000-seat theater.

The planning for the building began in late 2000 and the bond was passed in 2002.

“It will absolutely help us,” Springston said. “No. 1, when people come from out of town we like them to see this. We are growing here and attracting families and we want them to come to school out here.”

The building cost the district $15 million, but appears to be worth it.

“We are also building from the ground up two elementary schools,” Andrews ISD superintendent David Mitchell said. “We are really excited about what that will do for academics as well as for athletics.”

Greenwood and McCamey also are jumping into the mix.

The Rangers built a new fieldhouse complete with an indoor practice facility. A new weight room is still being built.

“It is nothing like Andrews, but it’s really nice for Greenwood,” head football coach Steve Taylor said.

McCamey’s improvements came about a little differently, as it was by donation rather than by passing a bond.

Florida Power and Light, which is a major employer in town, wanted to give something to the school after the Badgers went to the Class 1A Division I state championship game in 2006.

After talking to administration it was decided the company would erect a new scoreboard at the stadium.

The old scoreboard was 8 feet by 12 feet, while the new one will be 32 feet wide and 13 feet tall.

“Florida Power and Light wanted to help out,” head football coach Jay McWilliams said. “They have a lot of people working around town. We talked with them a long time. I think it is just wanting to be a part of the community and wanting to do something to help the school.

“They approached us and we are just happy they did it.”