There will be a special meeting of the Cuba School Board at the end of the month to discuss re-prioritizing further renovations to the track and field complex. The results of that meeting could dictate what remaining work at the track gets done first.

After hearing a presentation from the Crawford County Foundation’s Track Committee at the October board meeting, the board asked that a special meeting be devoted to the topic, so that more time can be spent to iron out how best to move forward with the final phases of construction.

“Basically, when (committee members Kathy Lasley and Tracey Hughes) presented their information, the board decided they would set a meeting to discuss nothing but the track and have the committee come there to discuss it at that time, explained Assistant School Superintendent Kim Robinson. She said the regular monthly board meeting did not allow enough time to properly cover the topic in as much detail as the members needed.

Questions have been raised by the committee about how best to go ahead with subsequent construction phases now that Phase 1 (new track surface, football field, bleachers, concessions stand, restrooms, landscaping and fencing) is finished and paid for. Essentially, this month’s special meeting will address those issues. It will be held Monday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the R-2 Administrative Office.

The Track Committee is working hard to raise money for the final phases of the project, and considerable funds have already been donated toward the work. The real question is how can the money be spent most effectively and efficiently.

It has been suggested that the athletic locker rooms—originally part of Phase 2—be pushed back and other items, such as the ticket booth and gate entrance, be done first. After all, they’re smaller building projects requiring smaller budgets and a shorter construction time. Also, the committee would like to use donated labor and materials for the rest of the project to avoid prevailing wage requirements, which drives up the overall costs.

“They’re going to come up with the answers at that special meeting,” Robinson told the Track Committee. “It’s going to be hashed out. It may be a long meeting, but it will all be hashed out.”

Rachel Andreasson of the Track Committee said the money her committee has raised thus far can be used best in a way that inspires others to raise the balance of what’s needed to finish the overall project.

“I’d like to see the decisions (about the track) be made as quickly as we can, so that we can move forward and get it done,” said R-2 Board President Cheri Schuette.

Robinson said some details need to be ironed out before the board gives any approval to changes in the district’s plan: “Do we know what volunteer labor, bricks and materials, and such are available? Do we know who is out there and would be willing to do (the work) if the board approves of it?”

Dave Workman serves on the Track Committee and is also a general contractor who has done work for the school district before. He volunteered to oversee or assist in any projects involving donated labor and/or materials, but pointed out the need to determine first what it is the committee wants to do. “You’ve got to know what the project is that’s out there in front of you, and then you go out and line the people up who will work on it, then take it to the board with how much it will cost,” he explained. “When we pick a project—and there are other people with more expertise than myself that can help—I will gladly see to it that the project is done right.”

Workman said once the board and committee come to an agreement as to how the next phases should move forward, the group should go forward with actual construction.

If the committee were to oversee construction and then turn over the completed project to the school district, there would still be issues related to maintaining proper paperwork and paying bills that must be worked out. Any donated labor or construction materials would be tax-deductible through the foundation.

“I think we would need good contact with the school to see that it all goes smoothly,” explained Workman. “It’s the logistics of getting things straightened out that would be your biggest problem.”

Workman told the committee he would look at the district’s building plans prior to the Nov. 30 special meeting with the board.

Workman indicated that whatever decisions are made regarding the prioritization of subsequent construction, the track must be made usable in the spring for scheduled meets. You don’t want construction getting in the way. It would be counterproductive, he said, to enter into any jobs that cause headaches for the spring track season.

The ticket booth/entryway appear to be projects that could be worked on this winter without having a negative effect on the track season next spring.