TUF- BOE - New Athletic Fields in Play at the High School

New Athletic Fields in Play at the High School

1/6/9

At a special meeting of the BOE (Board of Education) held on Jan 5th, 2009 the BOE unanimously passed a motion to allow an architectural firm to write a contract for services to design an athletic complex for the High School. The project is planned to be built in phases. The first phase is hoped to be completed by this September and will include an all purpose field (soccer, football and field hockey) made of synthetic turf, an eight lane track, an eight lane straight track and conduit for eventual lighting. A rough estimate for phase one is $2.2 M which will be taken from the capital fund.

That fund currently has a total of $2.2M in it so no referendum is required to build the first phase. Future phases may be paid for by grants or other revenues (including taxes) and may be built over the next 4-5 years as funding becomes available. Later phases will include seating for 3000 home spectators and 1000 visitors, a press box, lighting, team rooms, concession stand and bathroom facilities.

BOE member Gene Unger, chairman of the facilities subcommittee introduced the plan. When asked during the public comment portion of the meeting what the total cost would be he was unable to answer. It is expected that number will be easier to estimate after the architectural work is completed. The architectural fee will be 7% of the entire project payable over 4 years. Superintendant Seto was unable to state if there are other projects that may also need money from the capital fund.

There appears to be consensus among the board, coaches, athletic directors, players and parents that currently the high school does not have adequate sports facilities. Last year the girls' soccer team spent their first two practices picking up rocks from the field to make it reasonably safe to practice. In addition teams are currently bussed to the Middle School (old high school) for practice. "This cost money and takes time from practice and studies", stated BOE member Holzhiemer.

Several years ago when the cost of building the new high school was first put before the voters it included a stadium. In an effort to decrease costs during construction the stadium was cut. The BOE then attempted twice to pass referenda for the stadium. TUF supported the stadium the first time but did not the second time to protest the BOE's refusal to have a performance review. Both referenda failed and the BOE later approved the performance review which is due out this January 15th.

Superintendent Seto stated that the timing of the vote was mandated by a time line that would eventually result in the completion of phase one by Sept 2009. Three Board members, Nancy LaCorte, David Burns and Jean Bernstein were aware of an ongoing process geared at eventually building a new stadium but only learned of the subject of the Monday night's vote hours before the meeting. A lengthy discussion ensued as they attempted to learn enough to make an informed decision. The meeting was not televised.

Phil Kramer