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Board weighs gym repaint, floor repairs and multi-field turf as summer work list
Summary
District facilities lead briefed the board on summer repairs including gym repainting (approx. $23,000), floor refinishing for safety, gutter and drainage fixes, landscaping and options to install turf for stadium and ballfields; turf sponsorships and lifecycle costs were discussed.
The Pocahontas School Board received a facilities update on June 2 covering summer maintenance priorities and options for longer-term athletic upgrades.
Facilities lead Craig told the board that ADA door upgrades are nearly complete and the playground procurement is approved. Staff presented options to repaint the current gym at an estimated $23,000 but cautioned that the building may be torn down as part of the broader campus project next year; several board members questioned whether spending on a short-lived cosmetic fix is prudent. Board discussion favored prioritizing work with safety implications, such as floor refinishing, which staff characterized as a maintenance and liability issue.
Craig also outlined water-intrusion issues at the business and ag/FFA buildings and recommended fixing gutters and foundation run-off before other cosmetic improvements. The board discussed landscaping and tree removal to restore access to a fire hydrant near the elementary entrance, and flagged possible right-of-way impacts from a local bypass project that could require sign or frontage repairs.
Athletic facilities were the other major topic. Staff described storage-building moves to clear equipment from gyms and presented preliminary turf options for the stadium and baseball/softball complexes. Staff explained that turf systems vary by base and infill; cheaper turf requires more rubber/sand infill and higher-maintenance profiles, while higher-tier systems have longer warranties but higher upfront cost. One company estimated adding turf for softball and baseball could increase scope by roughly $2 million; board members asked staff to return with bottom-line cost estimates and sponsorship models that would offset maintenance costs and support band and athletics.
Next steps: staff will prioritize safety-driven repairs (flooring and drainage), develop cost estimates and sponsorship scenarios for turf options, and return with recommended bids for summer site work.
