The Social Committee for the Construction of the Gymnasium at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące named after Władysław Broniewski in Bolesławiec, headed by City Councilor Andrzej Chodyra, MSc Eng., is convinced that this time its efforts will be crowned with success. So far, “two attempts have been made,” in 1976 and 1988. On those occasions, when everything was ready, the promised money to begin the investment was lacking. Successive designs were placed in the archives, while the value of the funds collected depreciated. Relatively little was lost during the most recent period. The school principal, Stanisław Małkowski, MSc, gathered the funds obtained so far—including those from the Bolesławiec–Sanok city tournament—and placed them in four fixed-term deposits at Bank Zachodni. The amount now totals approximately 130,000 złoty. The Education Superintendent in Jelenia Góra extended a helping hand, declaring assistance amounting to 200,000–300,000 złoty. The City Council allocated 200,000 złoty in the 1996 budget. The Gymnasium Construction Committee “has been promised” a further 200,000–300,000 złoty from Totalizator Sportowy. It has also undertaken intensive efforts to obtain funding from the Polish-German Cooperation Foundation. Declarations of assistance from private individuals and workplaces, including the Surmin Mineral Resources and Nowy Ląd Anhydrite mines, are encouraging. The military community, which has always been well disposed toward the school, offers its assistance within its means. The Bolesławiec Economic Society is interested, while the Association of Bolesławiec Merchants has already organized a charity ball, with the proceeds allocated to the gymnasium construction fund. The municipalities of Bolesławiec, Osiecznica, Warta Bolesławiecka and Nowogrodziec recognize the need for financial support. It is currently difficult to say how much money will be collected in the account. What is certain is that there will be enough to begin construction. Although the previous social committees did not manage to bring the investment to the construction stage, their efforts ensured that the site on which the gymnasium is to stand has been serviced and equipped with electricity, gas and central-heating connections. This provides additional financial relief for the potential investment and argues for the rapid implementation of the project. And since it is essential for nearly seven hundred students, since city residents could use the gymnasium, and since various sports and recreational events could finally be held there, no one needs convincing. At present, students exercise in a makeshift assembly hall and in basements. The gymnasium design presented by Ekolog-Systems of Poznań—six companies took part in the tender for the concept, design and investor-replacement services (trusteeship)—also provides for students of the Medical Schools Complex. It envisages a facility with a total usable area of 2,250 square meters. The main court itself will cover more than 1,000 square meters. A full-size handball court, as well as courts for volleyball and basketball, among other sports, can be marked on its parquet floor. There will also be two auxiliary exercise rooms, each measuring 140 square meters, along with the necessary social facilities, a sauna and storage rooms. The main hall will include ample space for spectators, including a balcony with 200–300 seats, several dozen of them seated. It is also important that the gymnasium will be connected to the main building and will not damage the centuries-old oak next to the facility. The projected total construction cost, with completion planned for the end of August next year, is approximately two million złoty (twenty billion old złoty).
The Social Committee for the Construction of the Gymnasium, the School Council and the Administration of I LO are convinced that there will be no shortage of people of good will, sincere and generous people who will help bring this project to completion.
For our part, as the Society of Bolesławiec Enthusiasts and the editorial team of “Głos,” we share the opinion of those who believe that, for everything the school has done for the Bolesławiec region during its fifty-year history, and because it is a leading educational institution in our voivodeship—it belongs to the National Association of Creative Schools—it deserves active and effective support for the construction of the gymnasium. May the determination and perseverance that characterize the Social Committee for the Construction of the Gymnasium, the School Council and the Administration of I LO be crowned by the successful opening of the facility.
We will inform readers about the results of these efforts, and for everyone wishing to accelerate the gymnasium construction process, we provide the account number to which money may be paid:
Bank Zachodni, Bolesławiec Branch, 382210-1632-132300, “Social Committee for the Construction of the Gymnasium at I LO in Bolesławiec.”