Board approves $118,080 tennis-court repairs after split vote

The Milan Area Schools Board of Education voted 4–2 on June 3 to approve a $118,080 contract to repair and resurface the Milan High School tennis courts.

Superintendent McMahon told trustees the work is primarily a sinking-fund resurfacing project intended to address cracking and uneven surfaces that have made the courts “essentially unplayable” in spots. He said the vendor will provide a five-year warranty and that the district obtained the price through a bid consortium.

Board members debated how much of the work is sinking-fund eligible and how much would fall to the general fund. McMahon said roughly $98,000 of the contract would be covered by sinking funds and that about $20,400 could be classified as equipment (posts, nets and anchors) and therefore not sinking-fund eligible. He added reuse of existing nets and posts could reduce the uncovered portion by an estimated $5,000.

Several trustees opposed approving the whole package now because the state school-aid budget had not been finalized and the district’s state funding allocation for 2026–27 remained uncertain. Trustee Prior said she was “a little leery of approving $20,000 out of general fund right now when we just don’t know what our budget’s really going to be,” and Trustee Hikah said she shared the caution about general-fund exposure.

Others framed the work as a safety and programmatic priority. One proponent said the courts have been used by students and community members and that delaying repairs could increase the cost later; the superintendent noted the quote was recently renewed and would remain valid for about 30 days and that practice and match schedules begin in August.

The recorded vote was: Pharaoh (yes), Hikah (no), Marray (yes), Prior (no), Sislo (yes), Berdette (yes). The motion carried.

The administration said it will proceed with the contract and noted that, if posts and nets can be reused, the general-fund impact may be smaller than initially estimated.