Okemos board hears bid-pack 5 plan to bring baseball and softball fields onto high school campus, discusses turf and donor support

The Okemos Board of Education on Tuesday reviewed a master plan to relocate baseball and softball fields to the high school campus as part of bid pack 5, with administrators saying the on-campus site would improve student access and reduce travel to off-site practices.

Superintendent Tom Buffett introduced the presentation and said partners and athletic staff recommended placing the fields on campus to create a centralized athletic complex. Director Brian Lieber and construction partners showed an overhead plan that adds a baseball and softball field, a multiuse practice area, a central plaza with concessions and restrooms, and improved drop-off and parking.

Why it matters: trustees said on-campus fields would reduce transportation burdens for students and families and could create a sense of campus identity. The district plans to phase the project so the essential play surfaces, fencing and basic circulation are included in the base bid, while bleachers, an entry canopy and some parking and practice-field work are listed as alternates depending on bids and donor funding.

On the playing surface, planners recommended artificial turf for the baseball and softball fields to limit cancellations during the rainy March–May season and reduce recurring seasonal labor. Trustee Katie Kavanaugh asked for community context and site clarity; another trustee voiced a recurring safety concern about turf chemicals, saying, “I do have concerns about the health and safety of our using artificial turf.” That trustee requested any health or safety research be provided before final approvals.

Administrators acknowledged the concern and said the planning team weighed usability and maintenance tradeoffs before recommending turf. Superintendent Hood said a potential donor may supplement district dollars and could allow the project to proceed sooner than the current budget allows. Hood noted any donation would be subject to board policy and require a formal acceptance process and legal agreement.

Money and schedule: presenters said the district has set aside $8.5 million as an initial budget placeholder for early work related to the athletic complex. The team plans an early bid package for turf (to be brought to the board with two-week approval in January) and to return with the remainder of the construction package for approval in May, aiming for readiness by 2027 if funding and bids allow.

Trustee discussion also emphasized prioritizing features that could generate revenue, such as fencing to enable charging admission, and leaving high-cost amenities as alternates if bids come back above estimates. Planners said alternating scope allows flexibility to secure critical elements first and add optional items if donor or bond dollars become available.

The board did not take a final vote on bid pack 5; presenters said they will return with furniture and bid results in coming months and that the district will bring full contract awards back to the board for approval.

The district’s construction partners will present an updated bond overview and bid results at a future meeting; trustees asked for clearer health data about turf and more detailed phasing costs before final approvals.