The football field at North Webster High School will now get a full makeover to alleviate some issues that has plagued the school for several years.
Principal Jeff Franklin says the project is more than just tilling up the field and planting new grass.
“We’ve got some drainage issues, and right now drainage is washed out and water stands on the field,” Franklin said. “The best research we could find didn’t have anything done since 1985, and I think all they did then was disc it up and replanted the grass. This project is not only going to take care of the sodding project, but it’s going to take care of a lot of different issues.”
One issue is with the addition of a track field, it is causing water to pool on the field.
According to the proposal by NCAL, Inc., the company chosen to do the work, renovation will include removing asphalt and concrete on the visitors side and the south side of the field, repair damaged existing drain covers and inlets located within the area to be sodded, and install new swing joints on each sprinkler head on the existing irrigation system.
The hope is to begin work in May to have the field ready for football season in August.
The cost of the project will be $56,400.
District 2 Board Member Malachi Ridgel offered a substitute motion to use money from the sale of the old Springhill High School property to pay for the football field renovations.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Rawls says the sale of the property will be up for 30 days and has already had two contacts.
SRO Contracts
The board passed unanimously a cooperative endeavor agreement for the City of Springhill for a school resource officer, but one opposed when the vote came to the two for the Minden schools. SROs will now be at Minden High School, one at Webster Junior High School and one at North Webster High School.
District 8 Board Member Ronnie Broughton opposed the motion, saying he felt like the maintenance taxes were to be used for maintenance of the district’s facilities.
Jon Guice, school board attorney, says law allows for these types of expenses to be paid from a maintenance tax.
Each SRO will be paid $25 per hour based on the number of hours worked, not to exceed $44,000 per officer. The cities will bill the school board monthly for the hours worked.
Board Member Jerry Lott says Lakeside Jr./Sr. High School is interested in an SRO; however, there is no one in that area that has the certifications needed to fill the position. When asked about the Doyline area, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dan Rawls says he reached out to them, but the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office would take care of their needs.
Money to pay for the officers will come from maintenance taxes for each district. The officers in Minden will be paid for through District 6’s maintenance tax, while North Webster’s will be paid for through the District 8 maintenance tax.
The school board also approved:
- The school calendar for the 2016-17school year. It will remain much the same as it did for the 2015-16 school year.
- Horizon Mechanical Inc., for water line replacement at North Webster Junior High School for $1,800 using Sarepta Bond Fund.
- The purchase of storage cabinets for three renovated classrooms from Stevens Industries in the amount of $6,832.21 for North Webster Junior High School, using Sarepta bond money.
- Mechanical Cooling Services to replace combustion assembly boiler #1 at North Webster High School for $4,560 using Springhill bond fund, and
- Field trips.
There was no personnel or superintendent’s report.
The school board members’ training will be from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Wilson’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant.
The finance committee will meet at 5:30 p.m., Monday, April 18, to follow up on Monday’s finance committee meeting.
The school board will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, May 2, at Central Office, located at 1442 Sheppard Street.