SLEEPY EYE – Fans who attend Sleepy Eye High School’s indoor athletic events have most likely noticed the brand-new seating in the upper and lower levels of the gym.

The new seating is the second part of a two-pronged renovation that was finished heading into the 2014-15 season. Sleepy Eye Activities Director Cory Haala said the old seating was not up to code and was long overdue to be replaced.

“We were barely even out of school and the next day they were ripping the floor bleachers out,” Haala said. “The bleachers in general, they were probably done ripping those out two days maximum. It didn’t take them long to rip those out.”

Sleepy Eye alumni Josh and Ben Altman replaced the gym floor following the conclusion of the 2012-13 school year as part of the first stage of renovation.

The lower-level seating is the standard-style gym bleacher seating that spells “Indians” in orange letters with black outline when retracted. But that now connects to the upper-level balcony seating after being separated by one low-rise rail.

The Facilities Committee’s approval of funding for renovations to the lower-level bleachers and railing was what ultimately led to the upper-level seats being replaced.

“Some people thought if we’re going to do this, we might as well do it all together and include the balcony,” Haala said.

The old red theater-style seats in the balcony were replaced with brand-new gray ones behind a taller black-lined rail with glass akin to what is used in hockey rinks, which does not smear or get scuffed up as easily compared to the standard plexiglass.

The school’s volleyball team already spent its season in the refurbished gym. The boys and girls basketball teams are set to do the same this winter. However, varsity sports are not the only events that the gym houses during the school year.

All levels of performing arts – band, choir, etc. – from elementary to high school use the gym for concerts throughout the year, giving it purposes beyond just athletics.

“It’s a facility people all see, that people all use whether it’s the community, whether it’s for theater or for pepfest,” Haala said. “No, the project wasn’t free, but we did have monies available and a couple different means to help pay for it.”

Overall, Haala said the gym was long overdue for an upgrade and now that everything is up to code, all he hears is good things about the renovations from parents and fans alike.

“Public schools in general, a lot of times they have difficulty with funding period for any projects,” Haala said. “With money, small schools like ours with declining enrollment, you lose federal funds with declining enrollment.

“But it is important to try to keep up with the upkeep of your building in general. If you let things go by too long, then it just becomes a bigger cost in the long run.”