Windham board seeks field, track and second gym for high school
August 7, 2008
Eagle Tribune
WINDHAM — Voters may be asked in March to approve a $2.5 million track and athletics field along with a second gym for the new high school.
The School Board took the first step last night in bringing the proposal before voters by including the facilities in its capital improvement request.
All four board members at the meeting agreed to make the athletic facilities one of their top priorities.
Vice Chairman Bruce Anderson said the board based its decision on the recommendation of the school’s new athletic director, Bill Raycraft.
After a review of the facilities, which include five ball fields and a gym, Raycraft recommended the track and an artificial turf field inside it, plus a second gym in the school.
Without the additional field, the five playing fields would be overused and require replacement of sod, he said. In addition, the track teams need a track for practices and meets, Raycraft said, and a second gym would provide an additional place for teams to practice.
The facilities agreed to last night are a scaled-down version of what was presented to voters earlier this year, board member Beverly Donovan said.
Voters defeated a warrant article asking for $5.5 million in athletic facilities, including the second gym, along with three additional athletics fields and a multipurpose sports center featuring bleacher seating.
School officials need to come up with more precise cost estimates for the athletic facilities before presenting them to the Capital Improvements Committee, board Chairman Barbara Coish said.
The estimate for the field and track is $2.5 million. The cost of the second gym, estimated at $900,000 last year, needs to be updated.
The committee will consider the board’s request when it meets in September to recommend a capital improvements plan for the town and school district, School Board member Michael Hatem said.
The athletic facilities could be financed through revenue in the capital improvements plan without raising taxes, Hatem said.