VIENNA — The Mathews Local Schools have unveiled plans for a $2.2 million gymnasium at the elementary school.

At the moment, the cafeteria and gym are part of a multipurpose room at Mathews Elementary School, which stuffs two significant school operations into one space, Superintendent Russell McQuaide said.

“This is going to allow us to really have a good setup where we can separate the two out, and have gym in one space and cafeteria in the other space,” he said.

McQuaide said the new gymnasium also will benefit high school students, who use a gym dubbed “the shoe box” due to its reputation as one of the smallest regulation gyms in the state.

“Although it’s not bigger than that facility, we only have the one gym in the district that’s used for practices,” McQuaide said. “We’ll be able to free up that gym to be able to have our students not have to practice late in the evening because of lack of space.”

McQuaide said there’s also potential for it to be used for community gatherings, primarily small events.

The district has no plans to seek a levy or new money for the project, McQuaide said.

The project is funded through multiple sources, including $875,000 in unused Elementary Addition project money and $175,000 in accumulated interest from it; and $270,000 in permanent improvement money, as well as $290,000 in classroom facility funds and $150,000 from the district’s general fund.

The district is also using $440,000 in proceeds from sold board office property, formerly Prestwick Golf & Country Club, which was purchased in 2015 with the intent of making it a new school complex. The plan never came to fruition.

The district began the bidding process for the facility Aug. 28 and plans to select a design builder Oct. 16. McQuaide said the district plans to establish the rest of the timeline from there.