By HOLLY GASKILL
Bluffton-Harrison schools will partner with A-Turf Inc. out of New York for new football and track fields.
The board approved a contract with the group for $550,500, and work is expected to begin directly following the track season this spring. The item will be paid for out of the operations fund.
Athletic Director Steve Thompson said the company was the best price, product and warranty the school could ask for. “I spoke with the (A-Turf) president last week, and they’re in Buffalo, New York, and they want to work with us because of that (existing) relationship … (the president) told me the field will be better than the Bills.’”
The board saw three renderings of the prospective turf fields, which included iterations of black and red endzones, the school name, and the tiger paw print logo.
Board member Julie Thompson remarked that she had noticed how the field had retained water this last season, which Steve Thompson recognized. “It does stand water in it now, and there are some issues that need fixed. I appreciate your support in helping us provide the best product for our athletes,” Thompson said.
Alongside this, the district also signed with FCI Inc. for the management of construction projects coming to Bluffton High School. According to Superintendent Brad Yates, the district had also received bids from Hagerman, W.R. Dunkin and Shawnee, and FCI was ranked to have the best bids considering multiple factors. They will charge 3.75 percent of the project.
The district held its annual Board of Finance meeting following its regular meeting, during which Yates reported an extraordinary $400,948.01 earned on the district’s investments. The 10-year annual average has been $60,170.
Alongside this, Yates announced that the district had received an over $8,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Education for accomplishments in early literacy. This amount will be distributed in employee stipends — $180.84 for eligible certified personnel and $60.28 for non-certified personnel.
holly@news-banner.com
