Empowering the Community with SAVE Fund Decisions

Details of the Public Hearings

The public hearings will be held during the regular school board meeting at 6:30 p.m. on January 13, 2025, at the E.J.H. Beard Administration Center. This provides a convenient time for community members to attend and voice their opinions. The school board members are considering various aspects of the project, including the allocation of funds for the bleachers.

Tim Bloom, the director of business services at the Newton Community School District, initially allocated $700,000 for the project. However, the cost estimates from FRK Architects + Engineers suggest a need for $729,500. This raises questions about whether to increase the budget to cover potential higher bids in the future. School board member Travis Padget proposed considering a larger amount to account for such uncertainties.

Addressing Accessibility Concerns

The accessibility of the H.A. Lynn Stadium bleachers came to light when a citizen voiced his concerns about the lack of handrails in certain areas. Tom Hollander, in September, urged the school board members to make improvements. His personal experience of having difficulty climbing the stairs without handrails highlighted the importance of addressing this community issue.

Hollander explained that not only does it affect him and his wife but also likely many spectators at Cardinal football games over the years. He emphasized the hardships faced by those with balance issues, especially with the added challenge of the new strobe lights. The easiest solution, he added, would be for him and his wife to stop attending games, but that is not the desired outcome.

Options for Accessibility Upgrades

In response to Hollander's request, the district's civil engineer provided additional context to the board members. They discussed options beyond just addressing the bleachers, such as adding ramps and handrails on the home side of the stadium. Rachelle Hines of FRK Architects + Engineers pointed out that while some areas of the stadium are not currently ADA compliant due to their construction time, updates can be made to bring the bleachers up to current code requirements.

Upgrades would include installing ramps, modifying stair widths, adding handrails, and raising guardrails. Currently, H.A. Lynn Stadium can seat less than 1,000 people. The concession stand and bathrooms are part of the second phase of the baseball field project.

Budget Considerations

Tim Bloom stated that the estimated cost for the project is $758,000, but the resolution set the SAVE fund allotment at $800,000. This provides some flexibility in covering potential cost overruns. In December 2022, the Newton school board approved the construction of the new baseball field, which cost about $3 million and was financed with SAVE and PPEL funds. The new baseball field is located across the street from the district's softball complex and H.A. Lynn Stadium.