Parent urges Caledonia board to repair middle-school tennis courts, questions bond spending

Jennifer LaPorte, a parent of twins at Duncan Lake Middle School, told the Caledonia Community Schools board that middle-school tennis courts are unsafe and in disrepair. "Court damage was not repaired properly," LaPorte said, adding that courts show "multiple significant size cracks" and weeds and that nets are slack with anchors pulling out, creating an injury risk for players.

LaPorte said she emailed the superintendent, the athletic director and the principal; she said athletic director Mr. Abrams "was quick to respond" and "forwarded my concerns to district leaders," but she has received no further communication. She asked the board to promptly allocate funds to replace and repair the facilities or, at minimum, to provide a written plan to address the issues and requested a seasonal portable restroom near the courts to reduce students missing practice while traveling through parking areas.

LaPorte contrasted the needed repairs with recent bond-funded projects, saying the community spent about $6,500,000 on a football stadium, approximately $1.4 million on Scotland Yard turf replacement, $0.3 million on band storage, and more than $3,000,000 at the Calplex. She said fixing the courts and replacing nets would be minimal compared with those expenditures and argued tennis supports lifelong participation and inclusivity.

Board members did not announce a specific funding decision during the meeting; LaPorte offered to work with the district on a plan. The athletic director's quick acknowledgement was noted, but no follow-up timeline was provided on the record.