Highland School Board reviews potential districtwide projects
By Brittany Blackwell
Reporter • The Highland School District Board of Education reviewed a series of potential facility improvement projects during its June 22 meeting.
While one project did receive a unanimous vote, Superintendent Mike Sutton clarified that these projects are not formal recommendations. Instead, he presented cost estimates for districtwide needs previously discussed by the board over the past several months.
The high school’s gym floor project is among the potential expenses, as the floor is nearing the end of its useful life.
“We’ve already done the last sanding that’s available on the floor. There’s no more wood to allow another sanding,” Sutton said. “At some point, with it being our main gym, it needs to be addressed.”
It was reported that asbestos is present in the frame beneath the floor. Replacement would require asbestos abatement and installation of a new floor, with an estimated total cost between $700,000 and $750,000.
The meeting also included a discussion about repairs to the district’s tennis court pavilion, which was on the agenda as one of the projects to be discussed during the same meeting.
Director of Buildings and Grounds Gary Stone reported that parts of the structure have deteriorated and require replacement to ensure safety. Repairs would include replacing rotting wood and implementing a maintenance plan to prevent future deterioration of the new materials.
The board continued broader discussions about the future of the tennis courts, with Sutton noting visible wear.
“There are a lot of cracks and they’re going to get bigger,” he said. “There’s moisture in that area on the campus.”
He added that the Highland Area Community Foundation has a fund for tennis court maintenance that the board may pursue.
Board members agreed the repairs were necessary regardless of future decisions about the courts and approved approximately $23,500 for pavilion repairs.
Investing in the baseball field for on-campus play, rather than using Glik Park, is estimated at $984,000. Options for improvements range from an all-natural surface and a backstop relocation to dugout upgrades for better safety. Costs can increase based on additional features, such as turf in different areas of the field.
Additional projects discussed included enhancing the high school field-event area, installing new LED lighting at the football stadium and repairing damaged concrete due to erosion around the circle drive at the primary school.
It was noted that the estimates may change as soon as 60 days.
Stone also addressed questions from Board President Aaron Schuster about alternative materials for the pavilion, turf fields in neighboring communities and other related questions during discussions.
