By JUDY SHERARD

jsherard@dailynews.net

Work has begun on the new 7,200-square-foot fitness facility on the southeast corner of Hays High School.

The current fitness area is 1,300 square feet, and "we see a lack of space," said Hays High School Principal Mike Hester.

The project -- Building F.A.S.T., an acronym for Fitness and Strength Together -- is to be built using donations at an estimated cost of $500,000.

Fundraising started more than two years ago, and construction began last month, Hester said.

Concrete work has been completed as time and weather allowed, and the metal building is scheduled to be delivered in October, he said.

The Hays USD 489 Board of Education approved a resolution in April that transferred oversight of the construction to the USD 489 Foundation for Education Excellence.

Paul-Wertenberger Construction is in charge of the construction management, he said.

"The way construction management works is, we'll run 'til we're out of money, then get more," Hester said. "We have enough for phase one."

While much of the work is being done with in-kind donations by local businesses, it must meet state law requirements for school district facilities.

"Wertenberger makes sure all that gets done," Hester said. "We can't just have Joe Blow say, 'I'll pour the concrete.' "

When it's completed, Hester expects 400 to 500 people to use the facility including athletes, dance teams, cheerleaders, staff and the community.

Unless the state changes the new facilities weighting rules, because it will be used for classes, the district will receive new facilities weighting for the space, said Deputy Superintendent Richard Cain.

It has to be open and have people in it by Sept. 20, so it won't be counted this year, he said.

Money for new facilities weighting would go into the district's general fund.

"We're hoping to get this thing up by January, and that's still doable," Hester said.

So far, there have been 260 major cash donors, 60 in-kind donors and thousands of others who have contributed by buying tickets for fundraisers and bricks, Hester said.

Fundraising efforts continue because the group still is about $100,000 short of the money needed to complete the project.

"When it's for the kids, I don't mind asking anybody for money," Hester said.