In addition to changes down Redwine Road and within the school with a new principal, a major facilities change is coming to Starr’s Mill.

“Having an extra gym will allow us to have extra locker rooms, allow us opportunities for underclassmen activities to play, and have a better time in which they can play,” Athletic Director Shane Ratliff said. “It’ll allow us some flexibility to hold multiple events at the same time.” 

Fayette County Board of Education approved the construction of auxiliary gyms for all five high schools. Phase one will include Whitewater High School, which has already broken ground, McIntosh High School, which is currently up for bid, and Starr’s Mill, which is still pending design. Phase two will include Fayette County High School and Sandy Creek High School.

“We’re actually starting to design it probably sometime late summer, and probably springtime next year we will start breaking ground,” Head of Facilities Mike Satterfield said.

Auxiliary gyms address concerns related to a lack of gym space when a multitude of indoor sports may need gym space at the same time. In addition, outdoor sports tend to get rained out during the spring leading to an indoor practice, and these gyms will facilitate that.

“The ESPLOST was passed mainly for gym space,” Ratliff said. “A lot of times our gym sports really have to work together in order to get gym space.”

Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) is an extra 1% sales tax in Fayette County. Funds collected through this tax can be used for school improvement projects and technology.

FCBOE plans for the auxiliary gym to be located where the outdoor eating areas are. Part of the cafeteria parking lot will also be impacted. 

The new gym will not cause any additional sports fields to be relocated, unlike the tennis court project, which moved the girls lacrosse field and the band practice field.

Panther athletics can expect construction to be completed by the end of 2025.