Six local banks have presented loan proposals for the $1.9 million needed to rebuild field and track facilities at two Durango School District 9-R schools.
Most of the funds would be used to renovate the track and field at the Durango High School stadium, with about $400,000 going to the track at Escalante Middle School.
“We’re analyzing the six bids now,” said Dan Snowberger, 9-R superintendent, “and we’ll make a recommendation to the school board at the April 26 meeting.”
The construction would address safety issues at both facilities. The track at DHS cannot be repaired, and because only two lanes are safe to use, the school’s track team does much of its training and hosts home meets at Bayfield High School.
The field has become so compacted, Snowberger is concerned about injuries. It will cost $30,000 to $50,000 annually to remediate it.
The rebuilt field would feature synthetic turf, expanding its use for more activities and for longer periods of the year. The synthetic turf also would provide opportunities for rental income from area sports clubs and other organizations.
At its work session Tuesday night, the board went into executive session to review the sponsorship contracts in the pipeline, which would pay the bulk of the loan.
The board wanted to be comfortable that the liability of the loan would not be a risk to the district’s general fund, Snowberger said.
“They’ve made the pledges,” Snowberger said, “but the contracts haven’t been signed.”
The rebuilding is scheduled to start at the beginning of June to be ready when football season starts, and the district has until the end of April to commit to the contractor for the project.
abutler@durangoherald.com
