Limestone County Board approves shade purchase, details districtwide KOMPAN playground rollout

The Limestone County Board of Education on an unanimous vote approved the purchase of shade structures for multiple elementary school playgrounds and discussed details of a districtwide playground installation program using KOMPAN equipment procured through the Omnia Partners cooperative.

Superintendent, Limestone County Schools, told the board the district is moving forward with playgrounds at all campuses and has used input from elementary principals and PE teachers to shape designs, surfacing and accessibility features. The board later voted to buy shade structures for Blue Springs Elementary, Cedar Hill Elementary, Creekside Elementary and Primary, Johnson Elementary, Sugar Creek Elementary and Tanner Elementary at a cost stated in the motion as $230,769.23 from KOMPAN (listed in the agenda as “Compan Incorporated”).

The discussion emphasized inclusive design and surfacing. The superintendent said KOMPAN’s designs are intended to serve students “for all ages and abilities” and use durable materials, including recycled fishing nets in some equipment, to reduce environmental impact. The superintendent described surfacing as soft and protective, and said the district’s Elkmont installation so far has been responsive under warranty. The board packet included playground concept images (Cedar Hill, Creekside primary/elementary configurations) and a recommendation that slides be installed in gray to reduce fading.

Board members and staff also reviewed scope and procurement. The superintendent said demolition and removal of old equipment is included in the budgeted turnkey contract; however, schools or community members who want to keep a piece of old equipment may do so only if they remove the concrete base themselves, which is not included in the demolition work. Creekside will have two separate playground structures (one for primary, one for elementary) while other schools will receive similar but not identical equipment and shade allocations. The packet shows some playground pieces (a dome structure recommended for group play, various swings and a seesaw-like apparatus) and a warranty summary for different components.

The board discussed aesthetics and durability. The superintendent noted KOMPAN recommends gray slides to avoid color fading and that some larger schools (Creekside) will receive two large shade structures; most other schools will get two large shades and one smaller umbrella shade area.

The motion to purchase the shade structures was offered by Doctor Herring and seconded by Mister Young; the chair called the question and the motion passed unanimously.

Board members said they expect the playground work to remain within the approved budget, with possible minor design changes as the installations proceed. The superintendent asked principals to continue giving input during final design review.

The board packet and staff comments make clear the district used cooperative purchasing (Omnia Partners) to source the equipment and that KOMPAN’s U.S. operations and design team were identified in the presentation as the equipment source and designer.