KINGWOOD — The Preston County Board of Education learned more this week about the cost to fix the Preston High track.
Arch Golis, of AG Sports Surfaces, spoke to the board Monday. Golis also was the representative of the company that put down the track.
In January, the board discussed damage being done to the track by drainage from the parking lot and the overall poor condition of the track, which is used by middle schools, PHS and the public.
The track was installed in 2004 at a cost of about $200,000, which was paid by grants, said board member Bruce Huggins in January. It was designed to be refurbished in 10-12 years by putting additional rubber on the surface. At that time, it would have cost $30,000-$35,000, he estimated.
On Monday, Golis said at 16 years old, “The track is reaching the end of its life cycle.”
He recommended a polyurethane surface that many schools are choosing because it lasts longer. He estimated the cost of redoing the track at about $165,000.
“The problem is the money,” board president Jack Keim said. “Where is the money going to come from?”
Golis said the cost could be lowered about $10,000 if the old track is removed locally, and that some schools they have worked with partnered with local businesses to, for example, provide rooms for the company’s workers while they are on the job, cutting the firm’s costs.
He asked if Preston had considered partnering with nearby Preston Memorial Hospital? No, board members said.
Keim said the drainage issues need to be addressed first. Superintendent Steve Wotring said the track is being considered as a second-year levy project.
No action was taken on the proposal, but track coach Paul Martin cautioned the existing track may not be usable this year.
In other discussions, Wotring tried to lay to rest rumors about the affect of snow days on the school calendar and staff schedules.
Preston students receive 30 minutes more of instruction each day than required, he said. “Students accrue extra time,” Wotring said.
That can be used to take up to five snow days without having to make them up. Preston has had only one snow day. The staff does not accrue time, he said.
“That does not mean that if we do not get any more snow, that I get four more days off. Because staff doesn’t accrue any time,” Wotring explained.
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