On April 8 the Jennings School District broke ground on a new $1.4 million sports complex, which will include a new track and field.
On February 25, the Board of Education approved a contract with sports facilities contractor ATG Sports Industries. According to the ATG Sports’ contract, the district’s minority participation goals for the project are 30 percent of contracts to minority-owned businesses (MBE), 5 percent of contracts to woman-owned business (WBE) and 30 percent minority/women field workforce.
ATG Sports expects to exceed the district’s minority participation requirements, according to board documents. ATG Sports will be required to report monthly on manpower and amounts paid to MBE/WBE firms.
The funding comes from Proposition J, an $11.5 million bond issue that Jennings voters approved by 61 percent in April 2011. The new complex will make Jennings School District one of only a few high schools east of Interstate 270 to have a modern, outdoor sports complex, district officials said.
Superintendent Tiffany Anderson said the district appreciates the community’s “support for voting for Proposition J and investing in our schools.”
ATG Sports will install a synthetic turf sports field, an all-weather track, goal posts, high jump, pole vault, long jump and a restroom/concession building for a total amount not to exceed $1,403,595.
The track must be reworked to achieve the Missouri State High School Activities Association’s standards for grade tolerances and will have a new rubberized running surface with all the association’s standard stripping and markings. The bleachers will be moved, along with a new concession / restroom facility.
Construction is scheduled to begin after the last soccer game in May.
Track and field coach Darryl Williams, who has been involved with the Jennings program for 30 years, said with an 8-lane, Missouri State High School Activities Association-approved track and field facility, Jennings will soon be a sought-out destination for other programs who want to compete on a high-grade surface.
“It’s just a wow factor,” Jennings Senior High Principal Dayle Burgdorf said. “The kids are going to be playing on a facility that actually mirrors their competitors’, and so it brings them up to a different playing field.”
Prop J funds will also go towards renovating libraries, media centers, science labs, auditoriums and cafeterias in the district’s eight buildings. To increase safety and security, the district will also upgrade cameras and locks, along with making building improvements.
Another major part of the Proposition J is the building addition on Northview Elementary, which will consist of two classrooms and a new library. The cafeteria will be expanded into the old library space. On February 25, the board voted to award the Northview contract to C. Rallo Contracting Company for $1,667,500.
C. Rallo also expects to exceed the minority participation goals, which are the same as the sports complex project.
