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RSU 5 board approves $5,000 for dual-design bids to decide 3-vs-4 courts and surface types
Summary
The board voted to spend up to $5,000 from capital reserves to obtain two sets of design plans and bid-ready documents (4-court post-tension and 4-court asphalt options) so RSU 5 can determine true costs and grant eligibility for tennis-court replacement and potential expansion.
The RSU 5 board voted June 3 to authorize up to $5,000 from the capital projects reserve to fund two sets of design plans for Freeport High School tennis courts so the district can solicit accurate bids and compare options.
Chair opened the agenda item by explaining the district has preliminary cost estimates but needs full construction documents to get definitive bids. The $5,000 will pay for design packages that include both post-tension (longer-lasting) and asphalt options for four courts so the district can evaluate actual contractor pricing and the trade-offs between upfront cost and lifetime maintenance.
Board and committee members said the facilities committee's consultant delivered preliminary numbers with unexpectedly small differences between asphalt and post-tension, creating a need to nail down real quotes. Discussion covered whether to replace the three existing courts or expand to four (coaches and committee urged four to increase student participation), potential permitting differences, USTA grant eligibility (quoted up to roughly $100,000'$125,000 for a four-court project), fundraising prospects and timeline impacts.
The board emphasized that approving the designs does not obligate the district to proceed with construction; it will return to the board for any funding decisions beyond the approved design expenditure. The motion carried with no opposition.
Next steps: designers will complete the two packages and the district will solicit bids, after which the board will review cost comparisons, grant prospects and a recommended construction path.
