School board approves Barnett Stadium turf replacement, accepts $0 construction change to clarify prevailing wage language

The Middletown School Board on March 24 approved a contract to replace the artificial turf at Barnett Stadium and accepted a $0 change order to a Conger Construction contract to clarify prevailing-wage language, actions the board said will not increase the district budget.

The turf contract, listed in the board packet as with “the Motes Group,” carries a not-to-exceed price of about $757,000 and is planned to be funded from the district’s PI (Permanent Improvement) fund. Board and staff said the project includes replacing the turf, adding a base pad under the turf, improving drainage, and replacing the gravel base; the work is scheduled to begin the day after graduation and is expected to take about four to six weeks.

District staff said the pad and subsurface work increase initial cost compared with earlier estimates but should extend useful life and reduce maintenance. “The benefit of doing that ... is it extends the life 3, 4, maybe longer,” a staff member said during discussion. The board’s materials show the district previously estimated replacement at roughly $450,000; staff attributed the difference to inflation, the new pad, and additional subsurface and drainage work.

The Conger Construction item is a zero-dollar change order inserted to add language about prevailing wages at the request of auditors. Board members were told the change order is administrative and has no budget impact: “there is no impact to budget. All of it stays the same,” a district representative said.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (includes Cincinnati State CCP MOU, personnel appointments, spring coaches and other consent items): approved by members present (recorded responses: Missus Ramsey Hunter — yes; Missus Stewart — yes; Missus Shiver — yes). The board recorded three affirmatives among members who were present; two members (Mister Moore and Doctor Erso) were listed as excused.

- Athletic agenda B (separate vote because of a conflict for one coach): approved (Missus Shiver — yes; Missus Ramsey Hunter — yes; Missus Stewart — yes).

- Barnett Stadium turf contract (contract with the Motes Group; approx. $757,000; PI fund): approved (recorded affirmatives by members present). Staff said work will start immediately after graduation and take four to six weeks.

- Conger Construction change order (prevailing-wage language; $0 change order): approved (recorded affirmatives by members present).

Board members and staff discussed funding sources and long-term planning. The business manager said the district has sufficient funds in the PI fund to pay for the project and that some PI fund capacity was preserved because ESSER funds covered recent HVAC projects: “Because of the ESSER funding, we're able to take funds that were gonna be used out of PI and use our ESSER dollars,” a staff member said. The board asked staff to include a community fundraising “ask” in the project outreach even though the district will pay from PI funds.

Board members also discussed turf design and vetting; the packet contained multiple design options and the athletic department and boosters reviewed and selected the proposal included in the contract packet. Staff noted improvements in turf manufacturing since the original installation—white lines will be integrated rather than seamed—reducing seams and expected maintenance needs.

The board approved the construction items and other consent matters by voice vote from present members. No member identified a change to the district’s budget appropriation as part of these votes.

The board directed staff to schedule a site visit to Barnett Stadium once concrete slabs and safe walking surfaces are in place so board members can view progress on the project.