At the end of the 2011 fall football season, the visiting stands at Glinatsis Stadium were completely worn out.
They were no longer structurally sound and needed replacement, according to then Superintendent Bob Hunt.
The stadium was built in 1964, and Hunt believes the visitors' bleachers and press box were installed shortly after.
"The [bleachers] were not installed on a concrete foundation that is now required to provide the necessary support for the current capacity," he said.
The old 750-seat visitors' bleachers were eventually replaced by a new 463-seat bleachers costing the district about $68,000, according to Hunt.
The district also replaced the old home bleachers and press box, which was rotting. The new 1,200-seat home stands and press box cost the district $160,463 for materials and $124,437 in labor, according to Treasurer Cathy Rouse.
In addition to the new bleachers, the field was rebuilt with new drainage, and new goalposts and a new scoreboard were installed.
"You should have seen this field last year," said former Facilities and Grounds Director Jim Washinski. "The drainage system failed, and we have pictures of us standing in ankle-deep water. This summer we stripped the entire sod surface and brought in about 500 cubic yards of sand and soil mix. Before, we had an undulating playing surface of about 2 feet from one area of the field to another."
Washinski and his crew also worked to professionalize the actual look of the field at Glinatsis, lining it with hashmarks up and down each sideline; big, eye-catching numbers; and a large rocket logo at midfield that Washinski and his crew sprayed with blue, yellow and white paint as the final touch for game-night preparations.
"The paint we use has halogen properties, so it's reflective. When the lights come on at night, the colors just pop," he said.
The district has also discussed replacing the track, which is basically crushed stone, with a new track and has considered using artificial turf on the field, but that's a longer term goal. The district is unable to host home track meets on the current surface.
The School Board also continues to work toward a formal proposal for new school buildings and renovations.
Last winter, the district narrowed its options to two general plans for facilities.
Both include building a new high school for grades nine to 12, renovating the existing high school to accommodate grades six to eight, using Henry Defer Intermediate School for grades four and five and renovating Campus Elementary School for preschool to grade three, according to Grimm.
The difference between the two options concerns the middle school and Wait Primary School. One plan includes selling or demolishing the structures, and the other calls for incorporating city functions at the middle school.
"There's really no room for expansion at the middle school [for educational purposes]," Grimm said. "Between the age of the facility and what it's capable of doing, [FMD Architects] are suggesting no longer using it as an educational building."
He said the middle school could be used as a senior center, house the school district's administration or provide space for the city's Parks and Recreation Department's programs.
Hunt said he doesn't know how much each of the options would cost, but estimated building a new high school would be between $22 million and $24 million.
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