Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Playground topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stark County board approves Phase 1 community-build to replace elementary play structure; board to fund $107,800
Summary
The board approved Phase 1 of the Stark County Elementary playground replacement as a community-build with Byrne & Jones supervising; total community-build cost is $146,000 with an optional swings add-on; the SCES Parents Club pledged $60,000, leaving $107,800 from the board for 2026 installation.
The Stark County Community Unit School District #100 Board of Education voted unanimously May 18 to approve Phase 1 of a multi-phase replacement of the elementary school’s largest playground structure as a community-build project.
Ben Brown of Byrne & Jones presented two primary options for the largest play structure: a contractor installation priced at $181,000 and a community-build priced at $146,000. The Parents Club offered an optional swings add-on for a community-build for $21,800. SCES Parents Club President Karen Lisota confirmed the club will contribute $60,000 toward Phase 1 ($40,000 in summer 2026 and $20,000 in 2027). Superintendent Brett Elliott recommended proceeding with replacing the large structure now due to its recent decline; the board’s remainder obligation for the community-build with swings is $107,800.
Board President Ann Orwig moved approval of Phase 1 as presented; Secretary Emily Leezer seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0. Brown said Byrne & Jones would dig and set all posts and supervise the community build, and that certified Byrne & Jones employees would sign off on the installation to address post-install liability concerns.
Parents and administrators discussed logistics: a community-build would require an estimated 6–10 volunteers per Byrne & Jones’s estimate, and Byrne & Jones confirmed tear-out of existing equipment and post setting are included in the presented costs. John Leezer of Leezer Insurance Agency remained to answer questions about volunteer liability and told the board the district’s liability coverage applies to volunteers and Byrne & Jones supervision and certification would address ongoing liability concerns after installation.
The board’s approval authorizes Phase 1 as presented; timing announced by Ben Brown allows for a potential August 2026 install if procurement and scheduling proceed on that timeline.
