Trustee Tom Beasley, during Tuesday’s afternoon meeting, said that he was concerned that the public didn’t know the amount of money the trustees would be spending.
“I don’t see anything in the agenda item that we are going to spend $1.3 million,” Beasley said.
The agenda item did identify the bleachers and press box replacement but didn’t include a price tag for the work.
The north side bleachers have been deemed unsafe and are no longer usable.
Earlier in the meeting, Robert Gadboid, with Owners Building Resource, presented three options to the trustees of how the new bleachers and press box could be configured.
The first two options included new bleachers and fencing on the north side of the field along with repairs to the south side bleachers.
It was the third option, priced at $1.338 million, that seemed to draw the most support from trustees present. Trustee Velma Elizalde was not at the meeting.
Gwen DeWitt, one of the task force members asked to look at what would be needed in the new bleachers, voiced her support for this final option.
“I am looking at this for our older population,” she said. “We have the Veterans Day program every November and we have to seat people on the track because they can’t go up those steps.”
This option, among increasing seating capacity from the current stadium, also moves the walkway above the general admittance seating which means spectators won’t have their view blocked by people coming and going.
Gadboid, consultant for the district, said, “There is no front walkway on these bleachers. It provides pedestrian access without blocking anyone’s view.”
As would be expected, trustees closely examined the cost difference between the options but also where the money would come from.
Nick Cardenas, board president, poised the question, “Do we spend $1 million or $1.3 million and then not give staff a pay raise come May?”
While all trustees sounded concerned that this could create a feeling of ill will among the employees of the district, they were reminded that the money expected to be used to fund the stadium is coming from the permanent school fund, bond interest and fund balance — none of which can be used to pay salaries.
All three options included an improved press box — the name of which is a bit misleading. The press box in the third option, sized at 16 feet by 62 feet, includes two small rooms for news media, an area for the announcer, scorekeeper, coaches from both teams and a large area for sport scouts and other dignitaries. There is also an elevator which leads to the press box to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Trustees are expected to meet at noon Monday to continue discussing their options and possibly approve a dollar amount to spend on the bleachers.
Beasley also reminded the board, “Our kids need the academics. Our kids need the athletics. They need the whole package.”
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