School district, college revise stadium plan
Staff writer
USD 410 Board of Education voted Monday to amend its contract with construction manager Coonrod & Associates of Wichita for the joint athletic field project with Tabor College.
Bids for the facility as originally designed totaled about $3.8 million, about $380,000 more than the budgeted amount.
Architects Tyler L. Moreland and David Riffel of Howard & Helmer Architecture of Wichita presented 13 cost-cutting changes to the school board.
The total potential savings of those measures was estimated at $275,460. Changes to a west parking lot and street were among the biggest savings, about $99,000 combined. The plan also calls for reducing the size of the grandstands by 434 seats, from 2,462 to 2,028.
The new plan also had one significant cost increase. The school district and college agreed a better quality track was worth the estimated $104,000 it would cost to upgrade.
Hillsboro High School Principal Max Heinrichs said the upgrade would increase the track’s expected useful life from about six years to 12. It also would be less damaging to runners’ legs.
The school district was pleased with the project and changes, Board of Education President Rod Koons said. He was pleased with the relationship with Tabor College on the project.
The school board approved amending the contract by a 6-0 vote. Superintendent Doug Huxman said the earliest phases of construction could start soon.
The school district and college plan to have the football field ready for football season. Completion of the rest of the facility may take longer.
Tabor College President Jules Glanzer attended the meeting. He said he was pleased the cost-cutting measures did nothing to compromise the health or safety of the athletes who will use the facility.