Next phase to include bleachers, crow’s nest and concession stand
The Wolsey-Wessington School District has completed several major improvements to its outdoor facilities as part of an ongoing capital project aimed at enhancing safety and accessibility across campus.
Superintendent Riley Donovan told board members at Monday night’s school board meeting that the football field and track upgrades are finished and in excellent condition.
“The first part of the project is done. All the lines are painted on the track, the field is seeded and we’re watering. Right now it looks really good,” Donovan said.
Earlier this summer, the district completed installation of a new elementary playground, which was ready for students when school began in August. The new playground replaced aging equipment and provides updated, age-appropriate features designed for safety and accessibility.
The upcoming phase of the district’s capital project will include construction of a new crow’s nest, stadium bleachers and concession stand, with Ciavarella Design Architects approved at Monday’s meeting to lead the design work. Donovan said the district plans to remove and repurpose any valuable equipment from the existing crow’s nest before demolition.
“We’ll take all the equipment and everything of value out of the existing crow’s nest and repurpose that,” Donovan explained. “We should not have to dip too much into capital outlay for the next phase. We’re going to be able to pay for the second phase with our contingency that we’re getting back, about $150,000 from our original project. That doesn’t even count what we came in originally underneath.”
The board asked Donovan to compile exact contingency figures ahead of the November board meeting, when members plan to discuss a potential $300,000 paving project to improve the school’s main, student, and back parking lots. With plans to host varsity track meets in Wolsey, Donovan said the additional paving will be important for accessibility and event parking.