Greenland, Prairie Grove Look at Athletic Facilities Improvements

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

In the coming year, or years, two school districts could boast new athletic facilities.

At A Glance

Paying For Athletics

State law doesn’t allow school districts to pay for athletic facilities improvements out of a district’s operating budget. Greenland and Prairie Grove officials plan to make improvements to their athletic facilities using local money from property taxes to pay for the work.

Source: Staff Report

Greenland school officials hope to make major changes to the football field sometime in the new year. Prairie Grove’s plans for an improved athletic complex may be several years down the road.

In Greenland, an architect has been asked to develop plans while school officials are looking at how to pay for a new fieldhouse, including locker rooms, restrooms, coaching offices, laundry room, weight room and a new concession stand. It will be built on the east end of the football field to replace the existing concession stand. Bleacher improvements and a track also are being considered.

Proceeds from debt restructuring could pay for the improvements, said Superintendent Charles Cudney.

Cudney told School Board members recently they may want to consider the restructuring next September to take advantage of lower interest rates than were in effect in 2008 when the school’s debt was last restructured. Restructuring, a common practice among school districts, could generate about $1 million for the district.

“We won’t ask voters for a millage increase and this won’t cost any money out of the current operating budget,” Cudney told board members.

The suggestion of a new fieldhouse came about 13 months ago from Lee Larkan, athletic director. The board at the time gave Larkan a green light to pursue private donations for the project.

Cudney said the proposed timetable is to have final plans drawn by next summer, followed by bidding in the fall and construction beginning after the 2013 football season.

There may be money left from the athletic project to pay for other projects around the district, Cudney said.

Meanwhile, the Prairie Grove School Board has received preliminary drawings of what a new athletic facility could look like, but there are at least two major projects ahead of it, said Superintendent Allen Williams.

The cost is estimated at $3.5 million and could include new visitor and band bleachers, restrooms, concession and ticketing facility, lighting improvements, locker rooms, press box and expansion of home bleachers. Also, the plan, proposed to be completed in phases, includes a new baseball field with press box and street improvements on School Street.

Voters could be asked for a millage increase to replace the primary school building and a new competition gym at the high school, both of which are ahead of the athletic facilities.

Williams said the district hopes to hear by May 1 whether it will receive state partnership money for the primary school project.

“The athletic facilities are purely in the talking stages right now,” Williams said. “It’s not imminent.”