News : School board to accept bids for athletic complex, new Ag Learning Lab

By next month's Vinton-Shellsburg School Board meeting, leaders will know what it will cost to resurface the track at the Karr Athletic Complex, as well as what it would cost to replace the grass football field with a synthetic turf field.

The board unanimously agreed to seek bids for that project, as well as the new Ag Learning Lab, which combines classroom space and a livestock learning lab.

The board will review bids for both project during its April 14 meeting.

Track project

The board has set aside funding for the track resurfacing, something Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock said is necessary for the safety of athletes. The track is aging and sustained damage in the July 2011 wind storm.

Whether or not the turf project takes place this year depends on fund-raising, and those efforts are progressing slowly. The track project has been designed to allow for the turf project to take place when funding is available.

The track resurfacing project, including related drainage and flood control measures, is estimated at just over $400,000. The field turf project would cost an estimated $780,000.

The Barn

The Ag Learning Lab -- nicknamed "The Barn" by VS FFA members, would cost approximately $150,000, with much of that coming from private donations.

Outfitting the building is estimated at another $50,000. By September of 2013, a $100,000 commitment from the school (using PPEL funds) and donations had raised a total of $160,000.

School officials expect the barn to be ready by Aug. 1, in time to begin setting up equipment for the 2014-15 school year.

Former School Board member Todd Wiley is leading the fund-raising committee, which has garnered more than $100,000 in donations.

While that exceeds the original goal, Wiley recalls the high school project bids coming in significantly higher than expected, and is cautiously awaiting the bids for the Barn.

"We have exceeded our initial goal of $100,000 in pledges and money," Wiley said. "We are waiting patiently for the bids to come in to make sure the original budget under which we have been operating is adequate. We are not yet willing to declare victory in fundraising until we are sure we have enough."

See a more information about The Barn HERE.

Bowling update

Members of the VSHS boys and girls bowling team told the school board about their first season under the renewed program. The board received a request for two coaches for next season, since more than 50 students, including 24 incoming freshmen, have expressed interest in bowling next season.

"I wish I would have had this opportunity for my first three years of high school," senior Jacob Bunge told the board.

Parent Michelle Gosse presented a review of the season:•qualified for the State Bowling Competition.

•Boys Varsity (9-2) and Junior Varsity (7-1) had winning records •31 students participated on the V-S Bowling teams. •All bowlers competed in at least one competition. •Over 50 students interested in bowling in 2014-2015 season. •5 Bowlers didn’t participate in any other extracurricular activities before joining the bowling team. •½ of the V-S Bowling team had not participated in an athletic sport until the bowling team was added. •2 Students effectively managed being a cheerleader or voyager along with being on the bowling team. •13 Band students bowl on the V-S team and were able to participate in PEP band along with being on the bowling team. •9 Students are members of the Trap Shooting team.