By Holly Fesperman LeeSalisbury Post
Work could start as soon as Monday to replace the North Rowan High School track and tennis courts.
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education voted Tuesday to approve a recommendation from Gene Miller, assistant superintendent for operations, to replace the track, install additional drainage and replace the tennis courts at North.
The track and the tennis courts are in disrepair and both have cracks that are severe enough to cause teams to hold practice at other facilities.
North Rowan received a grant from the Robertson Foundation for $181,000 to replace the track.
When the school system received an estimate from Court One in Granite Quarry the company indicated that additional drainage was needed to keep the track in good condition.
Since the grant will only cover the cost to replace the track, Miller told board members an additional $102,625.21 would cover the cost of the drainage and tennis courts.
“It really does need to be done. If you want to do it, now’s the time,” Miller said.
Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom commented that the cost of doing the tennis courts later would be much higher and doing the work now would save money in the long run.
Board members agreed that sports facilities at North Rowan need the most attention of any in the system.
Board chair Bryce Beard said Robertson Foundation has stepped up and contributed most of the money needed for the project; the board needs to step up and do the rest of it.
Board members voted unanimously to approve replacing the track and tennis courts and installing the additional drainage.
Miller told board members that the track will have a rubberized surface but would not be green as the school requested. Adding color would have cost the system an additional $7,500. The track will have a standard black finish.
Court One’s total bid for the track work was $202,693. Their bid for the tennis courts was $75,922.
Miller said it would take about 45 days to complete the work on the track and tennis courts.
Miller thanked the Robertson Foundation for its generosity.
After the meeting, Miller said “Without that money we would not have had enough money to do any of the work out there. We just want them to know how grateful we are.”
Contact Holly Lee at 704-797-7683 or hlee@salisburypost.com.