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Illustration by Karl Gehring

School board members took a step this week toward improving high school outdoor athletic facilities, but many key decisions remain.

The board’s most vocal proponent hopes at least some fields at Lawrence High School and Free State High School can have artificial turf installed and be ready for fall sports practice.

“It’s realistic. Part of what we’re trying to do is get it so that something can be done this summer for some of the fields,” board member Scott Morgan said.

At their Monday night meeting, board members agreed to designate the remaining $2.4 million from the 2005 bond issue as a start to help improve practice fields at both schools.

Administrators now will submit all current project requests to the Kansas Energy Office. They expect to receive advice about what projects will qualify for a financing tool known as performance contracting, which rewards energy-efficient projects. The district expects artificial turf would qualify because it requires no water or mowing.

The list includes both the $12.2 million to improve practice fields and $18.8 million worth of backlogged work at elementary schools.

“We’re very optimistic in terms of the direction of the board,” said Mike Hill, Free State’s athletic director.

Adding artificial turf at Free State’s fields would help with wear and tear because the school also uses baseball and softball fields for competition, he said.

At Lawrence High School, administrators have presented more drastic conceptual changes, including adding baseball and softball fields near the school and a soccer field and tennis courts near the former Centennial School site.

The plan also calls for 180 more parking spaces at LHS. But the plans are preliminary and depend on several factors, said Mary Rodriguez, the district’s chief operations officer.

Board members and administrators want to get away from students having to drive long distances for baseball, softball and soccer practices.

“We’re very excited to be able to improve our facilities. It’s been long overdue,” said Ron Commons, the LHS athletic director.

Administrators still are talking with officials at Haskell Indian Nations University about improving Haskell Stadium, which the district rents for both schools’ home football games.

For now, board members are focused on improving practice fields at each high school.

The key will be how many projects qualify for performance contracting. The district also has about $1.6 million to use in its capital outlay budget.

Morgan said he hoped to get something finished by the time LHS fall sports begin. Other projects may be a couple of years away, he said. Board members also will have an eye on how the bids come in for different projects. While $300,000 is budgeted for Free State softball lights, the bids came in around $80,000.

“I think people will be surprised at how much we’ll be able to do,” Morgan said.

No final decisions have been made on which projects will be completed and when. Board members still must approve any major expenditures, and they might look to include some elementary projects, Morgan said.