School board approves major maintenance, advances Kelly Walsh soccer complex work amid debate over ‘crow’s nest’

The Natrona County School District #1 Board of Trustees voted to approve a list of major maintenance projects and unanimously passed the consent agenda at its public meeting, moving forward with bids and planning for work at Kelly Walsh High School and other district facilities.

The approval on the consent agenda included minutes, personnel reports, district bills and four construction bids: CCA gym floor replacement, driver-training course asphalt, and intercom replacements for student support services and University Park. Board members then approved a separate motion to authorize the district’s major maintenance projects list. The motion passed after a voice/hand vote; the board did not record individual roll-call tallies in the public minutes.

The vote follows extended discussion about a proposed concession building and press box at Kelly Walsh. The facility proposal includes restrooms, team meeting rooms, storage and a small second‑story crow’s‑nest area the district says will accommodate scoring/observation and electronics. The chair said the press-box work is part of the Kelly Walsh master plan and that architect estimates came in under the district budget, prompting the board to accelerate the project from a planned three‑phase rollout to two phases to capture savings.

Trustees were divided on the crow’s‑nest addition. Trustee Schmidt said the district needs restrooms and storage but called the crow’s nest unnecessary, arguing "it won't be cost efficient" for soccer and that the district should avoid adding amenities beyond basic needs given declining enrollment. Chair Kristofferson said the project reflects a long‑term vision for the facility and urged trustees to "make sure we do it right," noting the district expects the building to serve the community for decades.

Board members and staff also described related site work: a cold‑storage building for band equipment, moving the driver‑training course to district‑owned property near Morehead Park after the previous site was repurposed, and integration of a new scoreboard and electronics at the stadium. The board president reported the existing press box is roughly 45 years old and needed refurbishment.

Public comment preceding the vote included criticism of the project process and cost. A citizen said a $2,500,000 figure discussed in a prior infrastructure meeting functioned as a budget cap rather than a firm bid and urged the board to allow members more input on design before work proceeds; the commenter also said actual contractor bids had not yet been received.

The board authorized the district to proceed with the major maintenance list and to advertise the identified bids. Staff said final contract awards will follow the public bid process.

The district’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 14; trustees indicated construction timelines aim to complete work during the summer and to consolidate phases where cost and timing allow.