The athletic complex construction is underway. Last month, the press box and bleachers were demolished and work began.
The district obtained their funds through a capital improvement bond that was voted in 2022 according to Superintendent Dr Probst. So far, the project is on schedule, but Dr. Probst pointed out, “The biggest variables for this project are material availability and weather. Because the project is completely outdoors, significant weather can prevent progress.”
The plans show a larger home bleachers with the press box attached above. The District facilities committee worked with the architect to design the bleachers and the press box. A priority was more seating due to the large events hosted on the turf, like graduation. Dr, Probst said, “Situating the press box above and behind the bleachers means the press box will not displace any seating.”
The lifespan for the bleachers should be about 25 years, but the turf will need to be replaced first, probably in about 10 years, depending on wear and tear.
Other athletic areas of the school are in need of improvement, like the tennis courts and baseball fields. Dr. Probst said projects have been with help of the school architect. “In the case of the athletic complex, the turf field was nearing the end of its useful life, which put that project near the top of the list. Turf fields are required to undergo certification testing and fields that do not pass that test are deemed unusable. With the constant use of the turf by so many of our teams, we needed to make sure that did not happen,” Probst said.
The next projects at the high school are renovations of the cafeteria, library and two pairs of student restrooms. You can expect to see progress on those projects in the next 12-24 months.
