Huntsville board approves $2.64 million baseball-softball building, adopts school-choice policy and approves staff hires

Huntsville School District trustees approved a $2,644,778 contract to construct a 12,000-square-foot baseball and softball building and voted to adopt updated school-choice policies required by the Learners Act. The board also approved a slate of personnel hires, accepted resignations and a district transfer.

District staff said the building’s planned mezzanine was being removed to avoid triggering a sprinkler requirement that applies at 12,001 square feet. The staff member who presented the item said the mezzanine had been intended for storage but was not easily accessible; eliminating it avoids what staff estimated could be an $80,000 to $140,000 expense to install a wet or dry sprinkler system. "You can never have enough storage," the presenter said, adding that the mezzanine was the least accessible place for routine storage.

The board approved the contract, which staff said would be paid by the Buck Vaughn Group Foundation rather than the school district’s general funds. The presenter said the district expects to return with an additional contract amendment request for roughly $145,000 to create a leveled grass practice field for baseball and softball,…