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Superintendent recommends rebuilding fields, prioritizing lights and parking in bond plan
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Lau updated the board on bond-funded campus projects, recommending reconstruction of athletic fields at a new site (rather than repeatedly remediating current fields), discussed bus-garage siting and safety concerns, and proposed roofing and sequencing priorities within an approximately $8 million project scope.
Superintendent Dr. Lau told the West Noble School Corporation board that recent technical reviews favor rebuilding the baseball and softball complex at a new site rather than attempting an in-place refresh that would require expensive earthmoving and complex drainage systems.
Dr. Lau said investigators reviewed six possible locations and determined that moving the fields to higher ground with existing fill and drainage would be equal to or less costly than hauling soil off-site and rebuilding on the current footprint. He said keeping the fields in place would likely require expensive tile drainage systems and potentially two press boxes instead of one. "If we rebuild it correctly, we avoid repeated, short-term fixes that will cost more in 3 to 5 years," Dr. Lau said.
On transportation infrastructure, administration again considered using the old auto shop or other temporary locations for bus storage and maintenance but flagged operational and safety concerns about backing buses out of buildings on slopes and routing diesel fumes near learning spaces. Dr. Lau recommended siting the new bus garage where it best serves traffic flow, utilities and safety, and emphasized minimizing double moves that would disrupt summer state inspections and bus maintenance.
Dr. Lau reviewed broader project costs and priorities, stating a team goal to complete the elementary, high school, office, theater, band/choir spaces, bus/maintenance and baseball/softball projects within an approximate $8,000,000 envelope. He urged doing lights and parking ahead of concessions/restrooms if budgets tighten, a change that resulted from board work-session feedback.
On building envelopes, administration shared preliminary roof-replacement estimates for four sections totaling about $915,400 plus $11,000 in architectural fees. Insulation testing indicated that the existing insulation is dry and reusable, which would save an estimated $85,000–$125,000 on those sections and prompted staff to propose delaying some construction until competitive bids can be solicited later in the year.
Board members pressed for clarification on property ownership for a potential off-site field and were told the district owes about $300,000 on a land contract, with administration expecting to pay it off early next calendar year if needed to clear ownership questions. Administration said it has in-writing consent from the landowners for improvements and has queried the State Board of Accounts about compliance; staff said they will report back if any restrictions are identified.
Administration emphasized using existing footprints where practical and repurposing underused spaces (for example maintenance offices adjacent to the bus garage area) to save cost. Dr. Lau said the FFA program remains funded by student and parent savings for future projects and that sale proceeds from the primary building could be used to replenish fund accounts if necessary.
Next steps include additional cost-savings work with project contractor Martin Riley and consultants, a roof bid package to be prepared by Garland (roof program manager) and a board vote on the roof work at the next meeting.
