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Board hears plans for Pierce Middle remodel and track/field upgrades; turf choice and budget draw questions from members
Summary
District staff described a combined remodel of Pierce Middle School’s gym, stage removal, bleacher replacement and an expanded running track and new synthetic turf; trustees pressed for details on artificial turf impacts, timeline, community access and budget reallocations.
District staff presented plans to remodel Pierce Middle School’s gym and replace exterior track and field surfaces, describing interior upgrades and a broader site project to be done over the 2025 summer and fall construction seasons.
Planned interior work at Pierce includes installing a resilient composite gym floor over the existing surface in the auxiliary gym, replacing bleachers, modifying backboards to create two half courts, adding windows for natural light and lowering the existing stage to gym-floor level to create more usable space. Staff said the main entrance corridor ceiling will be flattened and refreshed, and some competitive gym floors across the district will be replaced or refinished.
Outside, the district proposes replacing the running track and expanding lane width from 36 inches to 42 inches to make the facility more competitive. Officials said the expansion required modest adjustment of the site footprint so an eight-lane track can be maintained. The plan also calls for a new synthetic turf surface, a new scoreboard, fence adjustments, improved visitor walkways, and an updated press box.
Trustees and members of the public raised several substantive questions: board member Julie expressed personal concerns about synthetic turf and injury risk, noting differences between NFL- and youth-grade surfaces; a resident cited studies and the NFL Players Association’s recent positions when asking trustees to reconsider turf choices. District staff said vendor and athletic director input led them to recommend artificial turf and that the project uses materials consistent with other district fields.
Board members also asked about timeline and logistics. Staff said Pierce work will begin earlier in the summer so some gym work can be completed before fall classes; Mason Middle School work will follow and includes asbestos abatement at Mason’s gym, which influenced scheduling. During construction, teams will be relocated to nearby district facilities; staff said Pierce teams may use Kettering or other local fields with transportation arranged.
On budget, staff said Mason is on budget but Pierce is over budget; the district plans to reallocate funds within the bond program rather than drawing on the general fund. Trustees asked for a bond-status update in January to provide new board members context on remaining bond funds and the planned series of expenditures; staff agreed to provide a summary of bond balances and remaining obligations.
Staff said community access to the renovated track and field would remain similar to current practice: facilities generally will be open to the public when not in use by district teams, though specific uses (for example, expos or festivals) may be restricted for safety or during construction.
No formal board action was requested at the meeting on Pierce; staff provided bid tabs and photos and said they will return to the board for approval of contracts and final budget allocations.
