By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved three capital repairs for sports facilities at its meeting Monday night.
The board approved a $219,786 contract with Pro Track and Tennis for the repairs to the middle school track.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said the track is in very poor condition and has resulted in several accidents.
The track will be completely removed to the ground. A new base and mat will be installed and a new structural spray will be added over the base layers.
This should carry the track for the next seven to nine years, Wilson said.
Although a proposed bond would move the middle school to a remolded high school building, Wilson said even if the bond passes, the current middle school would be used as a middle school for at least three years.
The bond proposes remodeling the current middle school into an elementary school. Wilson said the track could still be used by the elementary students and the community if the middle school would be moved.
The board also approved a $94,070 contract with Pro Track and Tennis for repairs to the Hays High School track.
Wilson said the Hays High School track is in better shape compared to the middle school track.
A third contact for $29,336 with Pro Track and Tennis was approved for the company to also make repairs to the HHS tennis courts. Wilson said the current tennis courts would continue to be used by HHS competitive tennis even if a new high school is built through a bond.
The district’s long-range plan includes adding additional courts. Wilson said the number of students out for tennis has been high the last few years, and there hasn’t been enough space to accommodate those students.
Work on all three projects is supposed to be done this summer. Pro Track and Tennis said it would discount its fee since it will be in Hays for all three projects. Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent of business services, said the savings could be as much as $10,000. However, the exact discount has not been settled with the company.
The board also approved a $30,720 bid from BSN Sport for the purchase of track equipment, including a high jump mat, pole vault pit and poles.
Board member Craig Pallister noted the high school facilities are also used by the Striders track team, HMS track team, as well as the local Catholic school students.
Board member Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp noted the items have all been part of the capital improvement list for some time and the board was finally “checking them off the list.”
Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay.