Colton board authorizes up to $200,000 for Viking Stadium safety repairs after months of debate

The Colton School District board voted to authorize up to $200,000 for immediate safety repairs at the Viking stadium, approving work the district’s contractor and an engineer identified as necessary to address rot and failing footers.

Board discussion leading to the vote was extensive and often split over whether to pursue the packet’s shorter, safety‑focused scope or to pause and plan a larger rebuild that could include new aluminum bleachers, storage space under the stands and upgraded restrooms. Proposals and price estimates were presented and debated: contractors offered a targeted repair quote in the board packet (the safety items), an estimate of roughly $625,000 for a mini‑split HVAC option for the gym/commons, and an approximately $1.2 million estimate for a chiller unit if the board chose a longer‑term HVAC approach. Community volunteers and board members also discussed a larger integrated option that participants roughly placed in the $3.0–$3.5 million range if the district reconfigured bleachers and added storage or restrooms.

Board member Tim urged long‑term planning, saying the district should pursue grants or bonds for a permanent solution rather than repeated short‑term fixes, while a volunteer who had worked with the contractor warned that delay increased the risk of a safety incident. “If we don’t do it today, we’re taking the risk of something happening to the stadium,” the volunteer told the board. Another board member argued the packet’s safety scope needed prompt action to address structural rot the district’s engineer had noted.

Ultimately the board approved the narrower safety package “not to exceed $200,000” so work could begin to correct footers, replace damaged roof components and shore up the crow’s nest. Board members also directed staff and volunteers to obtain updated, line‑item quotes for a larger package—new bleachers, storage and restroom options—and to bring those figures back to a special meeting or the full board for further consideration.

The board’s action was procedural and limited to the work and dollar amount in the motion; members repeatedly emphasized that any larger redesign would require additional approvals and separate funding. The district’s long‑range facilities committee will continue community outreach and will return with more detailed cost options for expanded projects before the board commits additional funds.