Abilene ISD Approves New Press Box at Shotwell and Indoor Turf Facilities

ABILENE, TX- Shotwell Stadium, as well as Abilene and Cooper High, are about to get new facilities and a new press box.

Superintendent Dr. David Young said on Monday that major projects were approved by the Abilene ISD Board of Trustees like a new press box for Shotwell Stadium and indoor turf facilities for Abilene High School and Cooper High School.

Other construction projects that were approved include expanding the district’s warehouse, larger security vestibules at Alcorta Elementary and Cooper High, as well as adding a multitiered classroom for presentation at Cooper High.

“We have for several years now been seeing surplus funds occur just at the end of the yar, and we’ve been careful and monitored our spending.” Young said.

The new press box at Shotwell Stadium will cost about $8 million and will hopefully be ready for the 2023 football season. The indoor turf facilities are expected to cost $9 million.

The other projects about $6 million. They are being funded by the $24 million the district had in surplus above the operating funds they must have.

The press box is overdue has been talked about for nearly 20 years.

 “We were probably talking about a new press box at Shotwell when I was a student in the Abilene ISD.” Young said.

As for the indoor turf facilities, they will be used not only for football, but for band and cheer practice, as well as ROTC and other physical education. These types of facilities have been something parents have commented on, and other schools already have.