Perryton ISD reviews playground overhaul and classroom upgrades at Bridal Elementary; final approvals scheduled next week

Perryton ISD trustees reviewed renovation plans for Bridal Elementary during a board meeting in which architects and district staff outlined a playground-first scheme that would replace the school's existing asphalt play surface with a concrete, all‑weather area and extend irrigated grass for a soccer/football field. District staff recommended a base budget in the mid‑$300,000s with contingency and asked the board to consider final approval at the next regular meeting.

The discussion centered on three priorities: converting the primary asphalt play area to an all‑weather surface, installing a sprinkler and Bermuda sod for the field, and providing sidewalks to improve community access and playground circulation. Staff said the plan reduces the paved area from about 26,000 square feet to roughly 20,000 square feet to free funds for sidewalks and the grass field. The proposed base budget presented to the board was about $374,000, plus a line for unforeseen items; staff said the original bond estimate was closer to $360,000. If the board keeps all sidewalks as shown and extends paving by roughly 6,000 square feet, staff estimated the total could rise to about $416,000.

The playground resurfacing was framed as the top operational priority. "The asphalt holds so much water we really can't go out," said Miss Chisholm, who identified herself as a school staff member, describing how the current surface forces teachers to keep students inside or limit outdoor time when the pavement is wet or muddy. Staff said the all‑weather concrete surface would be sloped and tied to drainage to prevent puddling and that the district prefers concrete because it will last longer than asphalt and reduce recurring wet‑weather closures.

Design and value‑engineering options presented included: - Full replacement of the primary asphalt play area with concrete, painted court lines and three half‑court basketball markings; - Installing a sprinkler system and Bermuda sod for a central soccer/football area; - Retaining and refreshing existing play equipment and replacing wood chips where required for safety, with rubber surfacing noted as significantly more expensive; - Sidewalks (four‑foot) included in the base; some walk segments were proposed to be combined with pavement edges to reduce redundancy and cost; and - Future shade structures, gazebos and additional playscapes shown as optional items deferred for later phases.

Staff said local contractors had been contacted for irrigation and sod work and that some cost savings come from reusing and relocating existing equipment. Options to shift concrete square footage to create a deeper play area away from classroom doors were discussed; board members and staff proposed moving paved area east/west within the same overall square footage so the concrete is farther from classroom openings to reduce noise and improve supervision.

Board members also considered classroom and restroom finish choices for the phase 2 renovation. The two primary options presented for classroom restroom walls were full ceramic tile (to match phase 1 hallway restrooms) or a lower‑cost epoxy paint or tile wainscot (for example, 4‑foot tile) to reduce square footage of ceramic. Staff estimated the marginal cost to add classroom ceramic could be significant but said a carryover of roughly $100,000 in savings from phase 1 could offset part of the expense. The board discussed an alternate millwork package to increase storage in some south‑side classrooms; staff estimated that alternate millwork would cost roughly $40,000.

Financial context and timing were raised: staff recommended an $80,000 contingency for phase 2 overall and noted construction price volatility, projecting material and labor pressures could add roughly 10–15 percent to costs over the near term. A district staff member named Britney said the remaining bond sale (about $15 million) will need scheduling and that discussions about selling remaining bond proceeds should begin; she estimated the sale would be needed by the end of 2025.

No formal vote was taken during the discussion. Staff said they will circulate revised plan and budget documents by email ahead of the next regular board meeting, when the board will consider final approval. The presenters and staff encouraged the board to prioritize the all‑weather play surface and additional grass area to reduce the number of days students are kept indoors due to wet or muddy conditions.

Section: Votes at a glance — none recorded

Ending: The board deferred a final decision and will revisit the recommended plan, contingency and any add‑alternates at the next regular meeting; staff will provide updated drawings and a budget memo in advance of that meeting.