Despite higher than expected cost, board votes in favor of project
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A big-ticket capital improvement project will move forward this summer in the Whitewater Unified School District, despite higher than anticipated costs.
After a lengthy discussion, the WUSD School Board at a recent special meeting voted, 5-2, in favor of issuing a $2.1 million contract to Plainfield, Ill.-based Midwest Sport and Turf for improvements to several outdoor athletic venues at the high school.
The plan in motion calls for Midwest this summer to install synthetic turf fields at three separate areas on the high school campus, benefiting the varsity baseball, varsity softball, soccer and football programs.
Business Manager Matthew Sylvester-Knudtson discussed the rationale behind the improvements at the special board meeting, which was held May 26. One of the key reasons for the upgrade, he said, is to mitigate the persistent drainage issues that have occurred on the grounds.
Synthetic turf, which currently is not in place on the high school athletic fields, is a guaranteed solution to address the drainage problems, Sylvester-Knudtson said. The less costly alternative of rehabilitating the existing natural turf fields, he said, does not provide the same assurance.
Midwest was one of two companies responding to the district’s recent request for proposals process. The other bidder, Texas-based Hellas Construction, was passed on because its nearest office is in Ohio and its quote was higher.
In all, WUSD sent RFPs to six companies specializing in turf management, meaning four were unresponsive.
Justin Crandall, athletic director at the high school, said he reviewed the pair of quotes and was comfortable moving forward with either company, though he also gave a strong endorsement to Midwest.
“I like the fact that Midwest is local,” Crandall said. “I feel confident that if we had any issues in a couple of years, and I called the rep, he’d be here in an hour-and-a-half.”
During the wide-ranging, lengthy discussion on the merits of moving forward this summer on the turf improvements, several board members shared concerns about the cost and process.
WUSD initially set aside $1.6 million for the project, which is being partially funded through the elementary and secondary school emergency relief (ESSER) fund dollars funneled to the district through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Board member Larry Kachel, who was one of the two dissenters, said he had reservations because of the overall cost.
“The shortfall is bigger than I expected,” Kachel said. “You’re robbing Peter to pay Paul to fund part of it.”
Board member Maryann Zimmerman, who also cast a dissenting vote, questioned the overall process. Before voting, Zimmerman said she would have preferred hearing pitches from representatives of both companies.
“All of this is mind boggling to me,” Zimmerman said of the process her fellow elected colleagues were taking. “You don’t have to be an expert in fields to ask thoughtful questions.”
WUSD is reaching out to prospective donors – including local businesses – to try trimming the district’s direct cost. School officials are touting the improvements as an asset that benefits the broader community.
“I would hope that folks would step forward with the fundraising,” board member Steve Ryan said.
