Citizen photo/ Glenn Harbison: This view from the annex complex building shows the new softball field. The new baseball field is in the background. Fannin County School System Chief Operations Officer Darren Danner hopes the entire complex will be ready for use by the end of July.

By: Glenn Harbison / glenn@fanninbasincitizen.com

Two years ago members of the Fannin County Board of Education gave their approval to a $32 million price tag for work that would include a new athletic complex at Fannin County High School and preparations for a new Consumer, Technical and Agricultural (CTAE) building on the same campus

Project completion is in sight almost exactly two years later.

The school system’s chief operations officer, Darren Danner, presented the Guaranteed Maximum Price of $31,946,469 that was approved by school board members at their July 11, 2024 meeting. Danner showed off the facility’s progress last Wednesday, anticipating everything would be completed by the end of July.

Step-by-step and room-by-room, Danner explained many of the ways the expansion will affect students at the high school.

The complex sits on almost 26 acres behind the high school, providing ample room for the new baseball and softball fields and tennis courts. The ball fields are made of turf similar to that on the football field, improving playing surfaces and greatly reducing regular maintenance costs. Lights on the fields are designed specifically to shine down, providing a minimal affect on neighbors. Each field has a dedicated press box, scoreboard and concession stand. Danner said that, combined, the two fields could hold 1,000 spectators at one time.

Parking will offer approximately 85 more spaces than are now available at the high school.

The new weight room, complete with new rack systems, will allow as many as 160 athletes to train at one time. Much of the equipment being replaced will go to the middle school.

A hitting facility will provide space for 11 athletes in a variety of sports to train at one time. These would include participants in golf, baseball, softball and even tennis.

Volleyball will now have its own dedicated court.

Locker rooms throughout offer more privacy. 

Last week, final touches and cleaning were underway in the concession stand and annex buildings. The sudden burst of wet weather had slowed the final paving of the tennis courts, but it was slated to take place as soon as possible.

Danner said that the next steps for the buildings are the elevator inspections and then fire marshal inspections. When passed, the school system will receive a certificate of occupancy.