School board debates new sports facilities
The fate of new high school athletic facilities rests in the hands of school board members. The outdoor facilities report will be the topic of discussion tomorrow night and the district had concerns over the current conditions. Enlarge video
School board members tonight hope to begin crafting a game plan for improving high school athletic venues.
But before they write the playbook, board members first must address many questions.
What will become of both high schools playing football home games at Haskell Stadium?
Can the district avoid having Lawrence High School baseball, soccer and softball teams drive across town for practice?
How feasible would it be to install artificial surfaces on fields for different sports?
"This is like going to set out to paint the world. We just need to know what country to start with," Superintendent Randy Weseman said.
At tonight's school board meeting, administrators are scheduled to discuss LHS and Free State's outdoor athletic facilities for football, baseball, soccer, softball and tennis. Then board members will hear cost estimates for a wide range of options - such as adding lights to Free State's tennis courts, building baseball and softball fields at LHS and constructing a new district sports complex.
Many ideas will be on the table.
But it's unlikely any concrete decisions will be made tonight.
Many options to consider
For the past month, administrators have been compiling costs for a variety of options they want the board to consider. At the same time, administrators have an eye on equity - between the two schools and between boys and girls sports, said Tom Bracciano, the district's division director of operations and facility planning.
Unlike Free State, LHS has no baseball, soccer or softball fields for either practice or competition, and its teams use fields at Holcom Park or YSI Sports Complex. The district does have space for fields near LHS and the nearby former Centennial School, now home to the Lawrence Virtual School.
"We want to talk to the board members and the public about helping the students have practice facilities at their home schools, so they don't have to be loading up their cars (to drive to practice)," board President Linda Robinson said.
While several board members last month mentioned trying to move away from playing home football games at Haskell Stadium, they did direct district administrators to begin talking with Haskell Indian Nations University leaders about partnering to improve the stadium.
Weseman said schedules have not allowed the two sides to meet yet, although they expect to talk today, before the 7 p.m. board meeting at district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive.
Because both high schools and Haskell use the stadium, the grass takes wear and tear, particularly after heavy rains.
"It'd be nice to be able to use a facility that's already here and much of the structure is there, but it certainly would take some improvements to continue there," board member Craig Grant said.
Board member Scott Morgan has said he would support a new district stadium that could be home to both schools if a future agreement doesn't work out with Haskell.
"I need to hear the numbers, and I need to hear what other board members are going to say," Morgan said.
Balancing act
Some board members said it may be tricky to try to balance major athletic improvements against other needs in the district, including large-scale maintenance required at some elementary schools.
Weseman and Bracciano said they would be able to finance turf installation on several sports fields by using performance contracting, a way to finance projects by using energy-efficient materials or environmentally friendly procedures. The savings - for water, mowing and pesticides, in this case - can be written off to help pay for the projects.
Board member Mary Loveland said the board should be looking at venues that provide a good long-term investment for both schools and, later, a third school. Also, facilities should provide safety for all teams and spectators, she said.
"Basically what we're getting into is the beginning of a conversation. I think there will be some things that we'll be able to clarify," Loveland said.
Comments
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imastinker (anonymous) says…
Aren't there big deferred maintenance thigns that still need to be adressed? Do they think we won't remember?
These people need to be chased out of town by a mob with pitchforks and burning sticks!
monkeyhawk (anonymous) says…
Lawrence's new anthem - Gimme Gimme Gimme Gimme ..... more.
I suppose the school board sees that a street got fixed, or the MT got more funding, so they should get something.
Does any one remember how much money the two bonds produced for the schools a couple of years ago and now they need maintenance funding?
Just more Rundlenomics.
Godot (anonymous) says…
No. Make do with what you have.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
Throw money at them and they will spend it. Thanks to all you bleeding hearts who voted to throw more money at these clowns. Now look what you have started.
misseve (anonymous) says…
Isnt the school district paying Haskell an obscene amount of money for LHS and LFSHS to play there? I might be wrong but wouldnt it be feasible to use those funds to help with the upkeep of the stadium? I havent been to a HS game at Haskell since i graduated 15 yrs ago so i have no idea what needs to be done there but im sure its in terrible shape. It was then. Just thoughts i have in my head im sure someone will be here to point out that im wrong.
toefungus (anonymous) says…
PLAY Redux
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
There's a simple solution the city, county and school district have used in the past. Just get the federal government to "surplus" Haskell's Stadium over to them so that it can be used for the "greater community good."
Clickker (anonymous) says…
Lawrence high school level athletic facilities are a joke. Haskell has no bathrooms, and only concessions on one side. The field is dangerous, esp. after rains.
High school kids have to drive their own cars across town to practice their sport? That is a traffic accident lawsuit waiting to happen; not to mention discriminatory against those who cant afford or choose not to get their kid a car. No community in Kansas has such poor facilities.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
I went to a high school where people had to walk across a parking lot to get to either the concession stand or the toilets. We only had one concession stand! Oh, the horror! It may come as a surprise to some people, but no one ever died of a heart attack on their way to the concessions or the toilet. The visiting team's fans had to walk even further (across a 1/4 mile track!). There was never a riot over only having one concession stand. The fans on both ends were forced to sit on metal seats attached to a metal stadium structure. I don't know how anyone ever survived our ghetto arrangement. Can life get any worse?!
merrill (anonymous) says…
Sooooo the superdome crowd is funneling this money hole plan through USD 497 because it cannot gain favor with the voter/taxpayers. They think people will roll over because it is now a public school venture. Not a good use of USD 497 tax dollars.
dana and louise hummer sports park
Location: S.W. 6th and Oakley
The $17.5 million multipurpose sports facility's 6,000-seat football stadium will be the site for the Sunflower State Games opening ceremony and festival July 17.
Other Sunflower State Games events at Hummer's football stadium -- track and field. Swimming and diving events are scheduled for the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
The complex is owned by Topeka Unified School District 501.
What about all the repairs the USD 497 facilities need now?
How about teacher salaries and deeper academics?
Why do high school athletes need super multi million dollar facilities?
Where's the money?
How does this fit into preparing students for the new green collar industry?
http://www2.ljworld.com/polls/2007/ap...
http://www2.ljworld.com/polls/2007/ju...
http://www2.ljworld.com/polls/2007/au...
merrill (anonymous) says…
According to the group Partners for Lawrence Athletics and Youth, renovation of Haskell Stadium would cost about $7.4 million. That would include new artificial turf, four new locker rooms, and improvements to restrooms and concession areas. (LJW August 2007)
Marshalus (Michael Stanclift) says…
No. No. No. No. No.
srj (anonymous) says…
Just let us know how much of a mill levy increase there will be so we can vote on it. Opps, I forgot, we don't vote on it. Maybe we can approve another bond AND increase the mill.
Clickker (anonymous) says…
"I went to a high school where people had to walk across a parking lot to get to either the concession stand or the toilets. We only had one concession stand! Oh, the horror! It may come as a surprise to some people, but no one ever died of a heart attack on their way to the concessions or the toilet. The visiting team's fans had to walk even further (across a 1/4 mile track!). There was never a riot over only having one concession stand. The fans on both ends were forced to sit on metal seats attached to a metal stadium structure. I don't know how anyone ever survived our ghetto arrangement. Can life get any worse?!"
Good.
So we should accept mediocricy because some people had it that way, and have never known anything better. It seems that maybe we should aspire to something a little greater than average, or we will soon be a doormat community to Topeka and Olathe, where people who have relocation options will choose to live due to the attractiveness of sports facilities for the community.
commuter (anonymous) says…
Build a baseball complex were Centennial now stands. It is funny, when DLR was presenting whether Centennial or Cordley should be closed, they showed diagram of Cent. and there was a baseball diamond on it. Randy wants a complex at centennial location not doubt about it.
I don't have a problem with building a new complex but I want something in return. How about our administration having their salaries frozen for a couple of years.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
Clickker: Lawrence is a doormat community to Topeka and Olathe. This community has plenty of other more pressing issues than football stadium toilets and easier access to fatty candy bars.
Ljames (anonymous) says…
We don't have money to keep the alternative High School open but we can build a new sports arena.
Oh I forgot sports is more important the learning.
blakus (anonymous) says…
I understand the negative reactions to building a new football facility. What I don't understand is in terms of equity, Lawrence High lags behind Free State in terms of practice facilities. The Lawrence High soccer team must drive to Holcomb immediately following the release of school. This is rediculous considering that Free State has practice fields within walking distance next to the school. Don't just blindly reject any proposal because of financial reasons and remember that our schools should have equal facilities and oppurtunities; oppurtunities that are not restricted by transportation and safety issues.
Kookamooka (MJ Browne) says…
Please God! NO! My kids' school is falling apart and they have been waiting for decades for capital improvement money for basic stuff. We were hoping and praying to make if off of the short list so we could see some safety improvements. With money being funneled off for football, I doubt we'll ever be able to afford the card key entry system.
The school district thinks it won't get tax dollars out of the voters unless they tie it to football. Well, it worked for KU. They still have crumbling classrooms but they have a great big brand new football practice facility. Isn't football just a game?
Clickker (anonymous) says…
We have no more "pressing issues" than any other community, and they seem to be able to do it.
It takes an educated community to understand that there are some good things in life, there are some attractive amenities that people desire. Football stadium toilets and easier access to fatty candy bars is a rather simplistic view of what we can have. Maybe it is easier to keep an underutilized muni golf course or a Bus system that NO ONE rides going. God forbid we step out and make ourselves attractive to the thousands of families that have kids in athletics ( yes that is a learning experience). If you have never experienced what is better, you dont know what you are missing.
hilary (anonymous) says…
Clickker,
You're smart, and right on.
Something needs to be done. Each high school pays $3 grand per game at Haskell. Can't this money help improvements, or would it be better spent in Lawrence's own field? It's not crazy. It's not ridiculous. It's what EVERY large district in Kansas has (odac, sdac, etc.). This talk has been a long-time coming.
I teach fine arts in the district, AND I support the athletic programs. You can do both things, trust me. By this time in the year, there is no more grass on the field at Haskell, and it's not a safe place for kids to play. Period. I wish the Alternative High School were still open, and I wish there was enough money to go around, but there isn't. You know what they say, "wish in one hand, s*** in the other, and see which one fills up first."
There's not going to be a decision today, or probably anytime soon. It's just being discussed, so halt your unnecessary anger toward the subject. Football does not take precedence over learning, they just want to see how they could improve the playing and practicing conditions for both schools.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Actually there are more students in classrooms than on any athletic field or tennis court. That seems to me ought to be the priority.
According to the group Partners for Lawrence Athletics and Youth, renovation of Haskell Stadium would cost about $7.4 million. That would include new artificial turf, four new locker rooms, and improvements to restrooms and concession areas. (LJW August 2007)
nobody1793 (anonymous) says…
If (IF) this moves forward, I would like to see boosters raise a significant amount (20-50%) of cost sharing through philanthropic donations or fund raisers. If there is a real interest, let those people put thier money where their mouth is. Hey, there's an idea, let's hold the mother of all bake sales! Think how much you could raise selling 'magic' brownies on Wescoe beach!
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Haskell also has some new athletic facilities. Partners for Lawrence Athletics and Youth would go a long way towards their goal if the Feds would "surplus" that, in addition to the stadium, for the "greater community good."
Come on, folks, most of those Haskell students look an awful lot like illegal immigrants. It's time to claim what is rightfully ours.
Clickker (anonymous) says…
I would suggest that one of the large stumbling blocks in doing anything related to new high school facilities is the misguided "traditionalists" at LHS, and is disguised as a resource issue.
ie. Just because the Lawrence Lions won the 19XX state championship using Haskell, it must be fine with todays teams.
We now have Free state, and in a few years we will have a 3rd high school. What are we waiting for. Tradition will always be there. Things change. Times change. Now, outdated facilities need to change.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Both high schools have swimming facilities. Both have tennis courts. Both have track facilities.
Both have baseball facilities Why can't both schools share the Free State Football field?
This is not as much about public school activities as it is about the great unproven idea that a superdome will attract tourist dollars that both Topeka and JOCO have and will want to continue. Of course JOCO and Topeka have a much much larger tax base to draw from and both will be wanting the same dollars that Lawrence feels it can steal from them. This another presentation of PLAY nothing more and nothing less only disguised.
More sales tax? More property tax? Both?
Clickker (anonymous) says…
" Why can't both schools share the Free State Football field?"
I think thats the idea.
Except Free state doesnt have a football field for games. A district stadium is what is appropriate, and all high school and Jr. high teams would use it. And as far as Tax base goes, Bonner springs has a better football and track facility than anything in Lawrence, and I would suggest their tax base is much lower than Lawrence.
sourpuss (anonymous) says…
Lawrence has a lot of administrators. We love administrators. We like to pay them a lot of money so they can buy sleek cars and big houses. We like to hire administrators because it makes us feel as though we are solving a problem without actually solving it. We do this throughout the city. Perhaps if we spent the money actually fixing the problems instead of consulting, studying, and administrating them, we would be in a better position.
thebigspoon (anonymous) says…
Bonner Springs is in Wyandotte county. I am sure that their tax base is larger than Lawrence now with all of the revenue being brought in at the speedway and all the business around it.
misseve (anonymous) says…
According to the group Partners for Lawrence Athletics and Youth, renovation of Haskell Stadium would cost about $7.4 million. That would include new artificial turf, four new locker rooms, and improvements to restrooms and concession areas. (LJW August 2007)
Something needs to be done. Each high school pays $3 grand per game at Haskell. Can't this money help improvements, or would it be better spent in Lawrence's own field? It's not crazy. It's not ridiculous. It's what EVERY large district in Kansas has (odac, sdac, etc.). This talk has been a long-time coming.
So i think my question was lost... Maybe it wasnt but why are WE paying so much per game and the basic manintece isnt being done? Haskesll ALSO uses that stadium and its up to them to make sure its up to snuff too, Right? I have read a lot of good and bad points and i cant point them all out but at the end of the day is what is going to be the best for the schools and what is going to be best for the students?
Hepburn (anonymous) says…
The money which Lawrence School District pays to Haskell goes to the BIA general fund and is not retained by Haskell for any purpose whether that be maintenance, facility improvements or their athletic department. Haskell probably receives some compensation for the use, but that is just a small distribution within the general budget.
Should $7 million plus dollars be spent improving a facility that even when renovated and improved, will not meet local needs? And, furthermore, is only leased and not owned? If such improvements are to occur, will there be compliance with the American's with Disabilities Act? if athletic turf is put into Haskell, will it remain football only? If soccerr is put in, the field would be expanded and the running track would be removed. So, where would local track meets be held?
The solution is a District sports complex, one which addresses the needs of football, baseball, softball, soccer, track and field, and potentially, tennis. The prime examples of these developments are Olathe, Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley, Gardner-Edgerton and Topeka high schools. They've invested in their community.
Oh, but why do we have to keep up with them? Well, that's the competition, folks. Fall way behind and you won't be going to see any Sunflower League participation anymore. Lawrence High and Free State will find no league and lesser competition in the future unless improvement is made.
But, it's going to cost too much! If that's the position to take, let's just get small and insignificant. For too long, the school district has lived off of others' facilities and ignored development of district-owned quality venues. Now is the time to do what is needed.
Clickker (anonymous) says…
"when Weignaug and Johnson bungled the Jail and Freestate deal and seporated the towns high school students by class and income status."........
not exactly sure what this means since I wasnt here at the time. I do know that Lawrence apparently attempted to keep the high schools "equal" in typical Lawrence fashion. But this has resulted in kids living about 1 mile from Free state going to grade school and Jr high with friends, only to have to leave them to go to LHS. Likewise, there are kids way out east having to go right past LHS all the way to the west side of town to Free State.
Since the facilities are not equal--esp the sports facilities, new development will be concentrated in the area around the best facilities ( Free State in this case) and the demographics will trend to what was not desired in the first place. This has already happened and will continue to spiral until at least the sports facilities are evened out.
Hepburn (anonymous) says…
Spywell says one high school would be better for this town. Really?
That would create a high school of 2500+ students making it the largest in the state by probably 1000. Since creation of Free State, violence in the high schools has gone down. Opportunities for students have doubled. Yea, there would be more State championship banners hanging in the high school, but education would not have been helped.
The reality is there are now two high schools, and things aren't going to change.
average (anonymous) says…
Clickker - "a Bus system that NO ONE rides going"
Thousands more ride the Lawrence buses than get to play high school football.
commuter (anonymous) says…
I would support a district own sport facility when a couple of things happen:
1. The fees for textbook, technology etc are eliminated. Right now, they are revenue generators even though the district is taking in more money every year.
2. PLAY raises 20 % of the costs.
3. City pays for 20 % of the costs.
4. The school district prints how much sports is costing the taxpayers. This would inlcude uniforms, coaches pay, additional busing, etc. They should also include revenues. The accounting should be by each activity. This would include all activities, sports, fine arts, and forensics. It is too bad the district doesn't want the public to know this information. Why hasn't this information been printed? Only Weseman knows and doesn't want to talk about it?
Clickker (anonymous) says…
"Thousands more ride the Lawrence buses than get to play high school football."
So what.
It's still a waste of money.
Taxicabs are cheaper.
nativeokiegirl27 (anonymous) says…
I would like to see Haskell and the Lawrence Community to come together and put a plan together that would benefit the student/athletes of the Lawrence Public School System, as well as Haskell. Rennovations need to be done at the football stadium and I don't understand why nothing has not been done to correct these issues. Also, has anyone like the new concession vender at the football games? For one I don't care for what he serves. Because I had ordered some nachos with cheese, and guess what the cheese was cold...eww..who likes cold cheese. The other day i ordered a Mt. Dew and it was hot...eww..who likes hot pop. Their hotdogs are GROSS...eww..who likes gross hotdogs..just would like to say is that he's service sucks...
Clickker (anonymous) says…
Bring back the Indian Taco's!!
Why arent the Haskell students manning the concessions?
BigAl (anonymous) says…
Posted by spywell: "Take this money and build more classrooms at Freestate, turn Lawrence High into a middle school like it should of been done back in 1998, when Weignaug and Johnson bungled the Jail and Freestate deal and seporated the towns high school students by class and income status."
**************************************************************************************************************************
Please explain to me how the high schools are separated by class and income?
dirkleisure (anonymous) says…
In Topeka, the Hummer Sports Park generates over 1/3 of its annual operating revenue from non-USD 501 events.
In Topeka, the Hummer Sports Park has an endowment of private contributions to go towards maintanence and imporvements over over $1.3 million.
Not to mention all the hotels rooms and restaurant meals the park generates revenue for the city from.
A sports park in Lawrence would be a regional draw, would be the type of facility that would likely attract interest from KU athletics (women's soccer anyone? that field is a joke!) and could even attract Big 12 championships.
There are too many creative financing options that are availalbe to get this off the ground to mention. How about an additional bed tax for hotels, for one?
I think this "conversation" is what ole Dolph has in mind when he rails against Lawrence for lacking "vision."
brizhunter (anonymous) says…
For all you who seem to want to bash Haskell for allowing the city of Lawrence to use a facility which does not belong to Lawrence or the people of that community, I say, go build your own facility. The small donation each school makes when they play, does not pay for the light bill; Not to mention the damage done by spectators to the surrounding areas when they park on the grass, the schools should pay for upkeep. For those small minded people who say, "we should take back what rightly belongs to us", who do you think you are? Native people were on this part of the planet long before the European outcasts landed here. We gave you our hand in welcome then, you responded by burning our homes and killing our children, stealing our property and now you come again when we have extended our hand and you want to belittle us by saying we do not belong or are immigrants. It is all of you who are missing the point. pay up or get out! You want a stadium but do not want the burden of the exspense. Stop playing football, pay your educators better (maybe then you wont be such biggots) and improve your schools first. if you do that successfully, then maybe just maybe your children will grow up more enlightened than all of you.
JOEHAWK (anonymous) says…
Whoever made the comments about the nerds was right. I agree that there are other problems to solve with maintenance of our existing schools. However this athletic issue is also a problem. It is important to many people.
I have a good friend that was a school board super in a town west of here. He said the other supers in the state did not like the lawrence school district. This was because we managed our district with less asst. supers and did more with our money. It made it really hard for the other districts to ask for more money from the state because we did so well. So before you all complain, compare what you have to other towns.
When I do so. I see towns like Wamego who just built some beautiful baseball fields and facilities. I go to other towns half our size who have artificial turf fields. We are the joke of league, no one likes to come here to play.
For those of you who think the football field is only for the football players, think again. There is the marching band, the cheerleaders, the dance team, even the yearbook photography class that all participate in football games, hundreds of students. Not to mention school pride. Not many people go to watch the swim meets, but hundreds or even thousands come to the football game. Many people in Lawrence go watch the games and they don't even have family that attend the schools.
I believe we do need some better facilities in Lawrence. The hummer complex is a great thing for Topeka. It helps their economy. Lawrence needs help with thier economy too. The hummer complex cost 20 million??? I bet their tournaments, swim meets, etc have brought that much in each year to the local economy in hotel rooms, dining, etc. How much sales tax is that each year? 1.4 million? That means they pay for it in less than 15 years. In the mean time the local merchants get to earn a better living as well.
Keep thinking small Lawrence!
Clickker (anonymous) says…
You are correct Joe-Joe
Godot (anonymous) says…
The Hummer Sports park is bankrupting Topeka. But, who cares about facts when it comes down to keeping a few parents from being embarrassed?
Clickker (anonymous) says…
The Hummer Sports park is bankrupting Topeka
Bull!
dirkleisure (anonymous) says…
Yes, Godot's comment is without merit. The effect of the Hummer facility is quite the opposite, unfortunately for him.
JOEHAWK (anonymous) says…
Where is your proof Godot?
Hepburn (anonymous) says…
Max1
Wichita East has 2300 students in 4 grades, 9th through 12th.
A single Lawrence high school would have 2500 students in 3 grades, 10th through 12th.
Include Lawrence 9th graders from the junior highs and you'll have a proper numbers for comparison.