District updates athletic facility projects at multiple high schools; visitor stands, press boxes and irrigation work ongoing

District staff provided a capital-projects update on April 22 covering site and stadium work at multiple high schools, including Beach, Hendersonville, Portland, Station Camp, Gallatin and Merrill.

Highlights provided by the director and facilities staff included:

- Beach High School: masonry work topped out, visitor-side foundation slab complete and visitor-side bleachers can be installed once a crane is scheduled; site grading and retaining walls are in progress.

- Hendersonville High School: visitor-side foundations complete, home-side foundations about 50% complete; staff said home-side work is more complex because additional football operations are moving to that campus and the site is landlocked. Retaining walls and storm drainage work are under way.

- Portland High School: new stands are partially complete, the press box has been set and field lights and electrical connections are complete; signage is being manufactured.

- Station Camp High School: demolition and storm drainage work are underway to address a long-standing drainage and crown issue under the track; staff said the work replaces irrigation and fixes crowning problems that caused erosion.

- Gallatin and Merrill High Schools: silt fences are installed and grading will begin pending weather; city permitting and engineering review remain part of those projects.

Why it matters: Staff noted scheduling and permitting differences across municipalities, and that much of the work involves site preparation that may take longer than visible above-ground construction. The projects were described as moving forward and expected to progress as cranes, retaining-wall work and permitting sequences are completed.

Ending: Staff said work will continue through the spring and summer and briefed the board on next permitting steps and staging for the various campuses.