Board considers plan for new track at THS

By DEB WUETHRICH

 Several high school track team members and their parents were in the audience at Monday night’s Tecumseh School Board meeting to hear a proposal to the board for possible future construction of a new track at Tecumseh High School. Track work had been a part of the bond proposal in May and they said it is still a need, not a want.
“We’re requesting a study group to explore options for the construction of a track and to explore fundraising and a donation campaign,” said Edith Hong, who made the presentation with track coach, David Greene.

Hong pointed out issues with the current track, such as its age (30 years) and deteriorating condition and also cited a number of injuries that students have suffered that are believed to have been a result of the aging track. She also talked about how the finial league meet is no longer held in Tecumseh because it is only a 6-lane track and not 8, with no room for expansion.

“For the first time in 32 years, Tecumseh track had to cancel the Tecumseh Relays this past spring due to the fact that no team wanted to compete on our track,” Hong said. She cited the popularity of the sport, with 80 students participating at Tecumseh Middle School this year, serving as a feeder system for the high school programs, along with a list of student track achievements, including state medals.

“I’m passionate about this because we have a great group of kids that deserve equipment that isn’t going to hurt them,” Hong said. “I know it’s a lot of money and we’re at a difficult time, but we’re willing to put forth some work that will make this a reality.”
Board president Debbie Johnson-Berges recommended that the matter be moved to the Facilities and Grounds Committee to evaluate the information and possibly start the process.

The board also took action to accept a bid for the sale of a $1,500,000 2008 Energy Conservation Improvement Bond to Fifth Third Securities at a rate of 3.52 percent. Finance Director Bill Wright said the bidding was competitive with five bids submitted. He said the district had received an upgraded Standard and Poor rating from A to A+ which likely made the bidding so competitive. A second resolution appointed the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company as paying agent for the bonds. The board approved the process in May in order to fund several school maintenance projects such as roofs and boilers with much of the work having been completed this summer. The last payment for the bonds will be in 2018.

In other business, the board members:
• Heard a report from Dan Gunder regarding a Facilities and Grounds Committee meeting and work that had recently been completed including the clock fascia that was installed over the clock at THS.
• Performed a second reading of a 504 Disabilities policy and Athletic Appeals process, and received and filed a Food Allergies Policy.
• Heard from parents who questioned school decisions to move children to other schools not in their neighborhoods with questions including how the decisions were made and why some School of Choice students may have received preference over students who resided nearby. Johnson-Berges said the board could not comment on specific situations but pointed out that building principals were charged with trying to balance out classroom enrollments, which change daily, between the schools with a goal of keeping classrooms under 28 students.