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Board approves turf replacement, track resurfacing and Horizon Elementary learning-space upgrades
Summary
Trustees authorized administration to proceed with turf replacement (including optional shock pad), track structural spray and learning-space renovations at Horizon Elementary; officials said turf is past typical lifecycle and projects should be delivered in summer 2026 to leverage contractor availability and interest-rate savings.
The Pewaukee School District Board on May 19 approved administration’s request to proceed with three capital projects: replacement of the high‑school artificial turf (with consideration of a shock pad), resurfacing and structural spray for the track, and expanded learning spaces at Horizon Elementary, including a new larger maker space and the removal of a classroom wall to create a flexible collaborative area.
District staff said the current turf was installed in 2013 and has exceeded a typical 8–10 year lifecycle; accumulated use exceeds 7,500 hours. Grounds staff described routine preventive maintenance practices but warned seams and other wear are appearing. Facilities staff described projected costs: a turf replacement including a shock pad is estimated at roughly $500,000 (projected and subject to bidding); a track structural spray is budgeted at about $130,000 to extend life by 4–6 years; shock‑pad options were noted in the $80,000–$100,000 range if separately priced.
The board also approved planning for a Horizon Elementary renovation to combine two classrooms into a larger collaborative learning space, enlarge the library maker space by roughly 50%, and improve visibility and supervision for maker activities. Administrators said the work would modernize instructional space in Horizon—one of the district’s older buildings—and enable more flexible programming similar to recent changes at Pewaukee Lake Elementary.
Superintendent and business staff explained the projects are being advanced now to capture contractor availability and potential cost efficiencies while the larger referendum construction wraps up; they noted prior referendum closeout and debt-service considerations. Solar‑array planning and potential federal funding sources (Infrastructure/Inflation Reduction Act programs) were discussed; administrators said they are selecting an engineering firm and expect bids for solar engineering this fall for a summer 2026 installation. The board’s motion authorized work and directed staff to return with final costs as bids are obtained.
Board members asked questions about lifecycle costs, maintenance differences between grass and turf, safety testing (HIC and shock‑pad effects on head‑injury criteria), and the potential for federal credits to reduce solar costs. Administration said the turf replacement approach (surface only versus full base reconstruction) reduces scope and cost compared with the original 2013 installation, and that turf maintenance costs are materially lower than grass upkeep.
