Hagan Elementary basketball courts are an improvement

The addition of two new outdoor basketball courts at Williston Hagan Elementary School are a slam dunk with students and staff alike.

"The kids love them, and they didn't have one for many years up there," said Hagan Parent Teacher Organization member Jodi Stair.

The first court was paid for by the district, and the most recent one was paid for by fundraisers last year.

Although not all of the bills are in yet, Stair said the PTO allowed for $6,000 when it first took on the project. She estimated the PTO is about $1,000 under its original budget for the second court.

The cement for the court is poured and the basketball poles and nets need to be erected.

Hagan principal Darla Ratzak said the first court was built with reduced costs to the district.

"It just costs the district for materials and the labor and everything was done by a crew from Halliburton," she said

This year, materials for the second court are covered by the PTO.She agreed that these two outdoor courts are great for the students.

"It's extremely important that the kids have a new place to be playing," she said. "It's nice to have it where the P.E. teacher can take them out and show them the fundamentals of playing basketball outside."

She also said the team aspect of building the courts is beneficial.

"The fact that it was a team effort, that everybody worked together to build those courts, it's just really nice to have them because we needed more things for the kids to do outside, not only during school, but after school where they can come and play and just have something to do."

On the court that is already up and usable, students put their hand prints in all around the court. In addition, Ratzak said some parents and staff got together a few months ago to paint the school colors into the hand prints.

At the edge of the court on either side, the phrase "Together we can" is stenciled in red.

Ratzak said there used to be four basketball courts that aren't there anymore, and they also have ordered two volleyball nets for that area.

"It's nice to have an area where all the kids can play," she said.