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Waunakee facility committee weighs second batting cage and gated bus loop at new middle school
Summary
The facility committee reviewed a request to add a second indoor batting cage at the new middle school and considered installing electronic gates on the bus loop to prevent parent vehicles from entering; no decisions were made but staff will return proposals and cost-sharing options in February.
The Waunakee Community School District facility committee on an unsigned-date meeting reviewed two prospective additions to the new middle school: a second indoor batting cage and an electronic gate system for the rear bus loop.
Speaker 3, who led the review of the middle-school contingency tracker, said the construction manager contingency stands at $3,150,000, owner contingency at $35,000 and the contract amount at $88,000,000 and described the district as being “incredible position” financially enough to consider optional add-ons. He said the batting-cage request came in a letter from the high-school baseball head coach, Cooper, and that middle-school principal Jeff Kienas and other coaches see value in more indoor capacity for baseball, softball and golf programs. "No decision is needed today," Speaker 3 said, adding the committee would expect a decision in February.
Committee members asked about how the district should pay for a second batting cage. One member pointed out teams have paid roughly $66,000 to third parties since 2020 for similar needs and suggested the teams might contribute a share. Speaker 3 said staff could work with Nick and the coaches on a cost‑sharing or reimbursement plan and bring the details back to the February meeting.
On the bus-loop gates, Speaker 3 described a proposal to install electronic gates similar to a planned gating system at the high school so buses could use an ID to lift the gate while parent vehicles would be prevented from entering the loop. He said the gates are intended to prevent vehicle congestion in the bus area and cited a recent high-school incident that complicated ambulance access as an example of the safety rationale. Staff suggested inviting Adam from Vogel and middle-school administrators (Jeff and Mike) to the February meeting to present design options, wiring needs and cost estimates.
Committee members also raised practical questions about timing and savings: Speaker 2 noted that installing power wiring now, while construction is in progress, could be less costly than retrofitting later; others said it may make sense to watch how the high-school gating performs before committing districtwide.
No formal vote was taken. Speaker 3 said staff will invite coaches, Nick, Adam from Vogel and middle-school administrators to the February meeting and return with cost, design and scheduling information.
