Perryton ISD trustees approve north-side field house plan after extended debate

Perryton ISD trustees voted 6-1 to approve floor plan number 11 for a new field house with an attached concession stand on the north side of the Perryton High School football field after extended discussion and a motion to reconsider an earlier plan.

The board’s decision followed a lengthy review of two alternative designs and a round of debate over timing, cost and internal layouts. Trustees discussed whether to consolidate the concession stand and field house into a single building — which staff said would be cheaper — or to build two separate structures. Staff described the combined design as roughly 14,000 square feet in total, with about 2,000 square feet for concessions and roughly 12,000 square feet for the field house. Staff estimated the project would fit within the bond allocation for athletic facilities, citing an approximate budget figure of about $4.8 million and saying parking construction is included in the budget package.

Trustees heard that consolidating the concession stand with the field house could save an estimated $100,000 compared with building two separate structures; other comments during the meeting noted prior savings and suggested up to $165,000 could be reallocated to other athletic needs, such as additional parking. Staff said a full design and bid process would likely take several months; trustees and staff acknowledged that the facility is unlikely to be completed in time for the next football season unless plans and construction schedules accelerate.

Board members raised design concerns during debate. One trustee opposed floor plan 11, arguing that the angled layout wastes interior space, creates awkward circulation and leaves the women’s restroom layout “terrible,” and called for modifications to hallway and restroom layouts. Other trustees and staff said angled elements add aesthetic character and better situate the building relative to the track and stands, and that angled areas could be used for storage or equipment. Trustees also discussed security and circulation, including a gated hallway between concessions and the rest of the facility so volunteers can work concessions without entering locker-room areas.

Procedurally, the board first voted 6-1 to reconsider the motion that had previously approved an earlier floor plan (that earlier approval had been recorded in the minutes). After the reconsideration passed, a motion to approve floor plan number 12 failed for lack of a second. The board then moved and seconded a motion to approve floor plan number 11; the motion passed 6-1.

Trustees asked staff to coordinate the field house design with later remodeling work inside the high school so locker-room space and Title IX considerations remain balanced when teams shift to the new facility. Staff said moving the varsity football locker rooms to the new facility would free indoor locker rooms in the existing building for girls’ teams and other sports, and that the district would aim to make interior finishes in the remodel consistent with the new construction. Staff also noted a previously explored federal hazard-mitigation grant for storm-shelter features, and said they would re-check availability and eligibility.

The board’s approval directs staff to continue design development and proceed toward bidding and construction planning for the approved north-side floor plan. No construction contract award was part of this vote.