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Board approves field lights, floor refurbishment and auditorium AV upgrade funded by donors
Summary
Trustees approved a Little League donation to install lower practice-field lights with city partnership, selected an epoxy floor option for the middle school, and authorized foundation-funded audio-visual improvements in the auditorium and middle-school gym.
The Odessa R‑VII School Board approved several facility projects on Monday that combine donor funding and district investments.
Practice-field lights: Little League requested to donate permanent lighting for the lower practice field, with the city assisting. Board members discussed operational costs, neighbor impacts and conduit routing; trustees approved allowing the donation while staff will negotiate installation details and usage limits with the donor and city.
Classroom floors: After receiving bids to replace tile at the middle school, the board approved an epoxy flooring option (recommended bid) intended to reduce long‑term maintenance. Administrators said the epoxy finish will be easier to clean and more durable for high‑use areas.
Auditorium and gym audio‑visual upgrades: The public foundation committed $35,000 toward an LED video wall in the high‑school auditorium, stage lighting upgrades and a permanently mounted projector in the middle‑school gym. The board approved procurement of the items the foundation pledged to support.
Why it matters: The projects improve facilities used for athletics, performances and instruction, reduce recurring maintenance demands and leverage community funding. Board members asked staff to ensure installations are neighborly (curfew/turn‑off times for lights) and to map underground utilities before final work.
Next steps: Staff will finalize agreements with the donors and the city, confirm conduits and sprinkler locations, and schedule work during the summer construction window to limit disruption.
