Board approves girls flag football across district, reviews $4.5M capital priorities

The Lincoln Way CHSD 210 Board on Jan. 15 approved launching girls flag football at each district high school and heard a buildings and grounds update outlining summer 2026 capital priorities.

District presenters proposed starting girls flag football next fall with two levels (a freshman/JV level and varsity), two coaches per level initially, and play in the conference schedule while the program develops. Board members noted the conference is adopting flag football and that the district had surveyed student interest. After discussion, the motion to begin the program passed unanimously.

Facilities staff described a proposed $4.5 million transfer into Fund 60 to support annual capital projects and identified top priorities that may require architectural design and bidding: tennis courts (West), an auxiliary multipurpose field at Central to support athletics and PE (and the new flag‑football program), field events at East, and transportation concrete/paving work. Early estimates from DLA for the larger projects were given in the range of $3.6 million to $4.1 million; staff said they will return with refined costs and bid results before bringing projects to the board for approval in March (larger projects) or March/April (smaller work).

On siting and use, staff said the Central auxiliary field would be north of the stadium and designed for multipurpose use (soccer, lacrosse, football) with striping that could also support baseball/softball configurations. Board members raised the need for additional practice space, repairs to aging tennis courts at West, and parking/access implications tied to an upcoming overpass project. Staff said they planned to stagger larger projects and avoid overextending the capital budget.

What happens next: staff will refine cost estimates, pursue bids where required, and return to the board with specific project requests and recommended contracts for approval in the spring.