After months of construction, the doors to Como-Pickton CISD's new gym opened Jan. 18. The facility was dedicated as the Lenise Miller Boseman Competition Gym, honoring the district's business manager for her 52 years of service to the district.
Construction on the gym began in July and concluded this month, a process a Gallagher Construction Services representative described simply as “a complete rebuild.”
The gym features a court, seating, weight room, locker rooms for both boys and girls, coaches’ offices, and updated technology throughout the space.
“It’s all brand new — everything,” the Gallagher representative said.
The project was funded through a voter-approved bond and supported by donations from local businesses. Farm Country donated the new center-hung scoreboard, while the courtside video screen was made possible through contributions from Alliance Bank, Brian Toliver Ford, La Victoria, and other community sponsors.
For students, the gym opening marks the return of a space they have deeply missed. High school athlete Presley Cummins said she’s most excited about something simple — 'having our own lockers, our own space.'
During the renovation, students practiced in shared spaces with elementary and junior high classes, often rotating through smaller gyms and makeshift arrangements. The new facility gives them a space to call their own again.
Superintendent Lydia Walden called the gym’s completion “the icing on the cake” after years of rebuilding across the district.
“We are very blessed,” Walden said. “This means everything to our kids.”
The reopening follows significant recovery efforts after the district reported approximately $12 million in storm-related damages in 2023, impacting multiple campus buildings. While the gym’s completion marks a major milestone, work continues, with the district’s new Career and Technical Education (CTE) building scheduled for completion this spring.
The new gym will host its first basketball games next Friday, welcoming the community back into a space that once again stands at the heart of school life.