Changes to Athletic Park could cost more than $6 million

The price tag for updating facilities at Athletic Park would be between $6 million and $7 million, Beatrice Public Schools Superintendent Dale Kruse told the BPS Board of Education during the board’s Monday meeting.

He said the question of what could be done with Athletic Park has been a topic of discussion in recent years.

“This fall we asked an architect to have a look at that,” Kruse said.

He said putting in an eight-lane track with a football/soccer field inside would wipe out the maintenance shed and require moving the retaining wall on the west side of that area.

The football field and track would also be further north from where it is currently located, meaning additional bleachers would need to be installed, Kruse said.

He said the total estimated cost to get all that done would be between $6 million and $7 million.

In other business:

High school marquee: Approved, 8-0, the installation of a new marquee at the high school. The total cost to install the new marquee and remove the old one is expected to be $34,769.

State aid: Learned that the district’s state aid for next school year will increase by $1.18 million.

Award: Learned the district received a CHIP Award for outstanding contributions to the program that gives parents a chance to have fingerprinting and other identification information collected on their child.

Collective bargaining: Board voted 8-0 to recognize the Beatrice Education Association as the bargaining agent for certified staff.