District weighs two multipurpose field layouts; geotechnical study to determine feasibility and cost

Connon C USD 464 staff presented two conceptual designs July 14 for a multipurpose field and track at the middle school intended primarily to meet practice needs for the middle-school track team and to host field events such as shot put and discus. Staff said one layout (north–south orientation) would require substantially more excavation — possibly 11–12 feet in places — and that the presence of rock in the hill could make that option impractical or cost-prohibitive. The district has ordered a geotechnical study (core samples) to determine soil conditions and to estimate earthwork and stabilization requirements. Until those results are received, staff said, decisions on orientation and final design cannot be confirmed. The district emphasized that initial construction would focus on track surfacing and basic support (scoreboard, basic bleachers) with potential for phased addition of restrooms and storage later. Staff estimated a complete build-out (including those additional elements) could be roughly $3.6 million, but said that figure is preliminary and contingent on design choices and subsurface conditions. Staff said the main driver for the field project is to provide safe, practical practice space for more than 100 middle-school track participants who currently practice in a parking lot and often must walk to the high school for track access. The board discussed phasing, excavation needs, and the potential sequencing of parking-lot work and field design; staff said the field design could be developed further after receiving the geotech report.