Simi Valley Gym Work Speeds Up

Although Simi Valley High will not get its proposed air-supported dome as a temporary home for its basketball and wrestling teams, plans for repair of the school’s earthquake-damaged gym have accelerated this week.

Repairs are now expected to be completed by Sept. 1, 1995, said Lowell Schultze, director of information services for the Simi Valley Unified School District.

On Tuesday, about a week after the temporary dome plans were rejected by the state architect’s office, the district received word that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had approved plans to go ahead with repair of the school’s gym and a multipurpose room, used for the band and other large groups.

The Pioneer basketball and wrestling teams will continue to practice at various off-campus sites, including the Apollo continuation school and at a gym at the Rancho Santa Susana Park. Games will be held primarily at Royal High, with some at Moorpark College or Apollo.

The school proposed a dome containing basketball courts and room for spectators, but the state architect’s office rejected plans for a dome of that size because there was no code for such a building on school grounds, Schultze said.

The building would have been similar to one constructed at Alemany High. Schultze said Alemany did not need approval from the state architect’s office because it is a private school.