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Board debates Crestwood stadium costs, food-service fund transfer and ADA, seeks clearer plans
Summary
Trustees discussed additional costs for Crestwood Stadium seating and plumbing, a requested $200,000 transfer from food service to facilities, Maywood project timing and ADA/access concerns; administration said food-service purchases are underway and Maywood will be completed this week.
Trustees of the Sumter School District on Feb. 10 debated extra costs tied to the Crestwood Stadium project, a proposed $200,000 transfer from food-service bond proceeds to other facility needs and whether the district has complete plans and ADA documentation for the visitor side of the stadium.
Board members pressed administration for detailed, itemized plans and full costing after hearing that additional plumbing and 800 visitor-side seats will increase the project price. Trustee comments cited safety and accessibility concerns, including missing fencing near a detention pond, limited emergency access to the visitor stands and unclear ADA documentation. "If a child gets out of the stand on the visitor side, a child can end up in the detention pond," a trustee said, urging a review of site safety before approving more funds.
The administration said additional requirements for toilets and urinals increased scope and cost after bids were issued and that the project team — described by staff as the superintendent, the executive director of operations and the maintenance director — is managing the work. Executive Director of Operations Mr. Myers told the board the district and outside contractors are coordinating required work and that the Maywood project is scheduled to be completed this week.
Board members also questioned a staff request to reallocate $200,000 from food-service bond proceeds to an "other facility needs" line to cover potential overruns on athletic and facility projects. Some trustees objected to moving money while cafeterias in multiple schools reportedly have inoperable equipment. "I'm not in favor of moving any, you know, monies," one trustee said after visiting a school where multiple kitchen pieces were broken.
Administration and operations staff responded that food service has additional federal/state funds and a liquidating ESSER allocation that will cover many kitchen purchases. Executive Director Myers said food-service staff have been ordering replacements — some costing $10,000 to $30,000 each — and that items are arriving and being installed at multiple schools. "All of those items that you're mentioning right now are being ordered daily," Myers said.
The board asked for a district-wide inventory and cost estimate for cafeteria equipment, timelines for replacement and a clear line-item accounting of the Crestwood contract and work completed to date. Trustees asked that bids, original scopes and any change orders be provided before any further transfers are approved. Board members also requested written ADA assessments or recommendations for the stadium; staff said site walks and notes exist but that formal written ADA reports were not yet available.
Other related details discussed: Crestwood and two artificial-turf fields (Lakewood and Sumter High School) were estimated at about $5,000,000 total per field in prior project documents, with the fall 2024 bond originally authorizing those projects; staff said those estimates and project scopes will be reviewed and prioritized to avoid delaying athletics. The board was told it may be necessary to re-prioritize or restore allocations when additional bond proceeds arrive.
The board did not take a final vote on any Crestwood-specific funding shift during the meeting and directed staff to return with the requested documentation.
Sources: Remarks and reporting during the Feb. 10, 2025 Sumter School District Board of Trustees meeting, including comments by Executive Director of Operations Mr. Myers and finance staff.
