By COOPER SLOUGH
Hays Post

Thomas More Prep-Marian is working on completing a few campus renovations before the new school year.

Among the renovations is an expansion of the public restrooms in Al Billinger Fieldhouse, as well as a resurfacing of an existing parking lot just east of the fieldhouse.

“The lot to the east of the field house is primarily underclassmen student parking, and will get an asphalt paving, and will be reconfigured to accommodate better traffic flow and larger parking stalls,” said Jeff Brull, TMP-Marian Advancement Director.

Brull also said the bathroom expansion was the last of three significant improvements made to the fieldhouse, the first two being a new roof and a reconditioned gym floor.

“The existing restrooms (in the field house) were small and in need of repair, so it was necessary to not only renovate, but also expand to accommodate the number of people that come to events,” Brull said.

Al Billinger Fieldhouse has a capacity of 1,100 people.

The fieldhouse is not the only building on campus receiving improvements. IT staff in the main school building are also putting the finishing touches on a complete wireless network overhaul to satisfy the requirement for higher internet speeds.

Starting this school year, all TMP-Marian students will be receiving a Chromebook computer for daily educational use, through a private gift by Lillian Schumacher, a 1951 graduate of the Girls Catholic High.

“This truly wasn’t a case of ‘Here’s Chromebooks, go change how you teach,’ ” Brull said. “The teachers have been training on these for quite some time.”

Brull also said he’s happy with the progress they have made this year with the improvements on campus.

“The site planning committee and capital means committee are always looking for ways to be more efficient, and to be good stewards of the resources we have,” he said.

School starts this year on Aug. 18.