Ohio County Schools Holds Off on Astroturf Purchase
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WHEELING - Ohio County Schools isn't rounding third just yet on a move to bring home new turf to the Wheeling Park High School baseball field.
Board of education members Monday night shook off a sales pitch from Astroturf, and instead asked for an itemized cost breakdown on components of the installation.
Dan Isaac, a representative for Astroturf, told board members the price tag for the project was going to be slightly higher than expected. School officials had estimated the cost to be $1.2 million, but it will be closer to $1.35 million, according to Isaac.
The price of rubber and other pieces needed for manufacturing the turf has gone up in recent months, he explained.
Work will include not just the turf, but fencing, excavation and drainage, Isaac continued. Materials are expected to be similar to what was used for the construction of the school's new softball and multi-purpose athletic field.
Board President David Croft asked for a breakdown of what each component might cost, and Isaac said that could be provided.
"I want to see the costs that go with everything," Croft said. "What are our options? How do we get what we need as far as the field?
"I look back at the softball field, and in hindsight I may have voted differently on some of the aspects that were done. I don't want to make that mistake again, so I want to see a break of the costs for the various components of the field."
A gross number of $1.35 million is not enough detail "for me to adequately be informed enough to vote for that," Croft added.
Isaac told him the price provided was based on cooperative purchasing options intended to keep costs lower.
Board members will need to vote to approve the purchase of the turf at their next regular meeting if it is to be installed this summer in time for fall ball games, Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones said. That meeting is set for 6 p.m. on April 25 at the board office, 2203 National Road.
"If we can do it by the next meeting, that would enable them - if approved - to get it done in time for fall ball," he continued. "Anytime after that would be cutting it too close."
Local weather conditions often force WPHS to cancel more games than do other schools, according to Jones.
This year, the WPHS baseball team so far has played just six of 16 games that were scheduled.
"I'm guessing we would have played 12 or 13 of those games if the turf was where it needed to be," Jones said.
Jones is not suggesting to the board that the lights be placed on the baseball field at the current time. But setting up the new field now for future installation of lights would save the school district about $400,000 in the long run, he added.
"If the board wants to entertain the thought of lights, that's great. But it's not what I'm recommending at this time," he said.
The dugouts at the field received a $200,000 renovation in recent years, and will not need to be upgraded as part of the project, according to Jones.
Steven Bieniek, business manager for Ohio County Schools, said the turf would have to be paid for out of $10.5 million in carryover from last year's school district budget.
The West Virginia Department of Education suggests school districts set aside about 5% of their annual budget each year. Ohio County Schools has a budget of about $70 million, and that would take away about $3.5 million of the $10.5 million carryover.
Bieniek cautioned them as they make their spending decisions that they also do not know what future expenses they might incur as they work to finish $76 million in building renovations across the district. Some additional funding could always be needed, he explained.