The new dome at our high school was built for another gym for freshman students, but the design of the structure was mainly to prevent destruction from inclement weather.

“The dome is a completely different style of gym, the principals and I changed and discussed what we thought it should look like. The school board came in and had the final say. Its main purpose was a structure to fight winds of a tornado,” said Principal Steven Miller.

A government agency named FEMA constructed the blueprints of the dome.

“FEMA money was brought to the dome to make the best possible design for the dome for the safety of the students. FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency which this agency had a major impact on the  production of our dome,” said Miller.

The dome varies in similarities and differences from other gyms in the county, the dome gym is unlike the other basic flat top gyms, with its circle like shaped roof.

“The Dome’s concrete structure around its walls and ceiling along with the aerodynamics allow high winds to go right over its top unlike most gyms where the roofs go straight across,” said Miller.

When a tornado is in the area and with the Dome being the only storm shelter it might be challenging to filter in all 1,881 students into one building.

“The classrooms that are closest to the front of the doors will be the first ones in, they will be filtering in from back to front. That would make it organized and reduce the time. I am hoping for a five minute span of all students to be in the gym in that amount of time,” said Miller.

The Dome is safest storm shelter the school has.

“The Dome is solid concrete all the way around, it’s a new place to teach and I like it. It makes me feel a little bit safer knowing how well constructed this place is and how hard it would be for a tornado’s winds to knock it down,” said Gym Teacher Gary Renshaw.

Many people have a different outlook on the Dome structure. A wide variety of students at this this highschool and even the principals have a positive opinion on the dome.

“I wouldn’t change anything about the dome, I like how it is very big and spacious. It would be cooler if the school put posters of our sports on the walls. I feel a little bit safer knowing I have a solid place to go to when a tornado is in our county,” said senior Marquis Zweifel.

The dome was built for the safety of the students, the School Board thought it would be best to make it a part of our school. Hoping the students never have to experience the panic of filtering into the dome, but with the structure it would be hard to knock down.