Mayor Proposes $2.5 Mil Replacement of High School Athletic Facilities
The regional organization in charge of accreditation has determined the existing track is "unsafe and unusable."
Attleboro High School's track and field facility is in desperate need of repair to reach even the basic level of usability. Mayor Kevin Dumas announced in a memo to city and school officials on Friday a $2.5 million plan to replace the facility as well as other improvements, including replacing the grass football field with a synthetic surface that could also be used for soccer, lacrosse and field hockey.
The mayor's plan is to borrow money and pay for the project over 15 years at a cost of $262,000 per year to cover principal and interest. He wrote in the memo that the project would not affect current existing city services or necessitate a Proposition 2 1/2 override.
"The need for the replacement of the track and field facility is undeniable," Dumas wrote. "Despite our repeated attempts to maintain and repair the track, the reality is that the track has become irreparable. The existing track has been unusable for years. In fact, the Attleboro High School track team has been unable to host a home track meet since 2008."
[The memo is attached to this article.]
The existing track is so unsafe that signs are posted notifying people to use the facility at their own risk. Dumas wrote that the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, which is in charge of accreditation, recently requested that the School Department "provide an update on the district's work and findings to identify funding to address the unsafe and unusable condition of the track facility."
Other features of Dumas' proposal include new bleachers, a new press box and fencing. The proposal also calls for a new concession stand and bathroom that would covered through fundraising efforts by high school Principal Bill Runey, Athletic Director Mark Houle and Recreation Director Dennis Walsh.
Replacing the football field with a synthetic surface has many advantages, Dumas wrote.
"Annual maintenance costs are drastically reduced and synthetic turf is more durable than grass," Dumas wrote. "More games and practices can be played on the new artificial turf. This alone will allow other fields to be taken off-line and revived."
The project has the enthusiastic support of at least one city councilor. Jeremy Denlea wrote in an email to Patch that it is evidence the community takes pride in its school system.
"This proposed new facility is a welcome solution to a very serious problem," Denlea wrote. "The AHS track used to host different local and regional meets as well as the local Special Olympics; all of these events have since been moved due to safety concerns. I want to see Attleboro High School's athletics facilities become the powerhouse they once were."
Replacement of the track has been on many people's watch list for some time. It is listed as "urgent" on the city's most recent Capital Improvement Plan and the School Committee recently allocated $13,530 to do an engineering feasibility study.
Covering the entire cost of the project with private funds and grants would be difficult because those options are "limited and extremely competitive," Dumas wrote.
He wrote, "So, and although we will continue to seek available grants and private funding wherever possible, this part of our journey towards restoring Attleboro's flagship school into one of the top high schools in the Commonwealth is entirely up to us."
Cori
10:47 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
of course the sports orientated stuff comes first... How about hiring teachers and staff that actually care about the kids? Care about helping them or seeing them succeed?? Why is it that they sports is ALWAYS the first things that are fixed? What about the music department? What about the science labs?
OH even better.... How about some funding to educate the staff on how to REALLY notice signs of bullying??? And how to PROPERLY respond to it? There's an idea....
Cori
10:54 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
I would also like to add.... Granted the track is in horrendous shape and greatly needs repair and there are signs stating "use at your own risk".... the school is STILL forcing the kids to use it. If they don't use it they get a ZERO grade for the day for not participating...... hmmm lots of concern for our children there....
Justin
10:39 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
I am wondering if Cori has seen the state of those facilities. The facilities are in an embarrassing state. I have no children and am a fiscal republican who believes in small government and I still believe that this project needs to be completed ASAP. Great job by the mayor. Let's get this project done.
Cori
4:35 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
@Justin.... Oh yes I have seen the shame that is the property of AHS... I just had one child recently graduate from there and another that I had to REMOVE from there because of the fact that the school's staff is so ill equipped at handling bullying situations that my child tried to kill herself. I agree that the schools grounds need serious fixing. But the school has had no problem for the last 2 years making the children of this town use these inadequate "facilities". FORCING them to use the track that is in such poor condition that there is a sign that says "USE AT OWN RISK". If the children of AHS refused to walk on the track, or even use the "facilities" they would receive a ZERO for the day. Didn't matter if they participated in other parts of activities.
Cori
4:44 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
@ Mr. Roach,
I hope that you are not referring to me as one of those "fat-assed parents" or my children as "brain-numbed kids who are sucking the air out of aerosol cans". Because I am a very active parent in my children's extracurricular activites. My son who just graduated from this school was on the swim team, did shotput, and played basketball. My daughter played basketball as well and on top of that did 3 hours of choir a day. And my youngest son, who has Aspergers syndrome, played soccer. I also have a godson who plays football and baseball and a goddaughter who is a cheerleader. So I do understand the need for the sports. And I am by no means "leaping upon a platform of moral superiority". And as they concentrate on the sports part of extracurricular activities the arts are being cut back. And my children are very "well rounded productive students".
Bob Roper
10:44 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Sports is why I work hard in school. I understand for kids with disabilities that being on teams is not necessarily possible, but it seems, Sarah Curtis, that you think the kids with disabilities need to be the sole focus at the school. The kids with disabilities should be being sent to a regional help school, but obviously the state of Massachusetts hasn't yet figured that to be a solution to many school districts problems. You SPED kids aren't the only kids. And I think renovating the field will be beneficial to many of the students at AHS.
Sarah Curtis
10:06 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I also am a parent of a middle school child w/ Asperger's. I attended the SC meeting tonight...what a joke. They all of a sudden have a nice set of new rules when approaching the podium. I say new because they weren't spoke of at my last attended meeting 6/18/12. I also receive a call right before I entered that meeting from te SPED director stating she wanted to meet with us regarding our concerns against the school and administration that were addressed when we filed with the Department (DESE - PQA Division). This is serious that our children aren't and can't receive the services contracted for them but hey 400,00.00 on toilets and food concessions seems worth it! SMH
Jen Crowder
11:02 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
2.5 million that could be used to pay for more occupational therapists so 3 schools with special ed programs are not sharing just 1- yes ONE- creating numerous violations against state and federal laws........but oh that would be logical and then Durkin can't blame the schools failures on the special ed students as she always does!
deb of see-attleboro
6:08 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Point to ponder: Today there is probably more opportunity for young people to participate in sports and recreation than ever. Yet we have a childhood obesity crisis.
Sarah Curtis
7:21 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Thanks for the info Jen!! That's probably why my kid doesnt have one. U can only stretch ONE person so far!! Again SMH.....
paul
7:37 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
2.5 million for the kids makes sense, 1 million for a dog kennel does not.
Cori
8:41 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
No.... 2.5 million to redo the track and field doesnt make sense. 1 million to BUILD a NEW facility does make sense... With the animal shelter you have to start all over... you cant really work soley based on what already exists...
Amy
9:09 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Well I'm just glad we have plenty of money and there won't be any drama going forward. Because here is the usual seniaro. The Mayor and the school all agree to do something like spend millions on a field (and I'm glad they are) and then next year there is another crisis and the schools need more money because it's never enough. Then, the first thing they threaten to cut will be buses, then sports, or both so they have some wiggle room. Never an Administrator or assistant to someone or other because: "It's for the kids"!! We must do it for the kids!
Christine Viveiros
10:03 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
@Sarah, for the record, the $400k for "toilets and food concession" will be raised through private donations and fundraisers so the Attleboro Booster Club will have a place to raise funds for the Attleboro athletes. And @Cori,the 2.5 million will be borrowed to build the new track and field. I'm sure if Mayor Dumas could, he would add the therapists if the money was available. Is it possible for the Mayor to borrow to fund the budget for additonal therapists? I'm far from an expert but I'm thinking the answer is no. We are fortunate to have what we have.
Sarah Curtis
2:22 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
@ Christine.....really??? Fortunate to have what we have??? Bottom line is this, mind ur business! You don't have the same issues or problems that me and other parents are having and if you did u'd be drumming to a different beat!! and still haven't gotten any paperwork regarding my allegations against the school...hummmm!
Sarah Curtis
2:23 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Make sure there is a state of the art place to do fundraisers but forget the kids who needs services right Christine?? Way to go!!
Christine Viveiros
5:19 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Sarah, once again, "yelling" at me for voicing my opinion. I'm not going against you on anything but since I'm agreeing to something you don't agree with, you have to needlessly tell me to mind my own business? This IS my business, sorry to say. My kids attend the same school system your child/ren do. Fortunately, neither one of mine are in need of special needs but if they were, you'd better believe that I would make sure their needs are taken care of as well. And yes, as little as it sounds to you, we ARE fortunate for what we have in these economic times. Everybody wishes we had more, myself included but why not make do with what we have?
Sarah
4:07 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Oh Sarah, you can't endlessly puke your guts out here about how wronged you are by the schools, and when someone else has a difference of opinion you tell them to mind thier own business. Perhaps you should think about the way you talk to people. If you are trying to rally support for your cause, being rude and disrespectful to others is no way to get it.
Sarah
4:18 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Additionally, your child is not the ONLY child in the school system. There are many children that would benifit from the new track. The first that come to mind are the kids who participate in Special Olympics. Its great revenue for the school system and great practice space. They are going to repair the track, like it or not. and I for one am VERY happy that they are. Revenue brought in by having a great field will ultimatlyy benefit ALL students. (including yours)
Sarah Curtis
5:26 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Never did I say the track didn't need improving! I agree the project is well needed but MY point was, services need to be available and they ARE NOT! So why not spend some money improving that....cause just like the kids who love sports (i played for years so I get it) deserve it so do the children who NEED special services so they to can someday feel confident to play sports! And puking my guts out??? You must not be a parent because what I hear sounds a lot like a parent advocating thru any means available!
Sarah
9:46 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I find it interesting that you assume that I am not a parent. There are many different ways to parent. Some jam it down everyones throat, some dont. Some fight loud and angrily, some are quiet forces, taking responsibility for thier own children first and then look to the schools to reinforce the families needs.
I have had to pay for neuropsych evals for 2 of my children, and in turn were reimbursed by the city after a disability was diagnosed (because we insisted). My husband and I were steadfast and unrelenting, but we didnt act like raving lunitics cutting down everything in our path. It took a few years, but my children were recieving services the whole time. Why? Because they are my children, and MY responsibility. I had to narrow my vision. I could not fight for everones children, I could only fight for my own. ALL schools have limitations not just Attleboro. We have never abdicated our responsibility for our children to anyone else. Try it. It takes away the fight with the schools and puts it where it belongs, helping your child learn.
Kevin Curtis
7:03 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Sports are considered an extra carricular activity. Sports are not the reason our kids are in school nor are sports the reason why it's a requirement our children attend school. Focus should be on what it takes for our children to receive the education they all deserve. Priorities are not focused correctly.
Jessica Bessell
8:47 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Hey folks, we are all entitled to our own opinions, lets not attack one another over them.
Christine Viveiros
9:54 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
@Kevin, the high school can lose its accredidation over the track and field conditions. Sports are more than an "extra curricular activity" and for some kids, sports are the sole reason why kids are in school thriving because for some, it's all they have to look forward to. No attack here. Just voicing my opinion.