Published: September 08, 2008 11:11 pm         

West Vigo could get practice field from turf funds

TERRE HAUTE — The Vigo County School Corp.’s three major high schools won’t be getting synthetic turf football fields anytime soon.

But West Vigo High School could get a new football practice field using bond refinancing funds, based on a Vigo County School Corp. proposal introduced Monday.

The cost for the practice field is estimated at more than $400,000 — and the money would come from bond refinancing funds previously allocated for synthetic turf at the Terre Haute North, South and West Vigo high-school football fields.

In May 2007, the School Board agreed to dedicate $980,000 in bond refinancing money for synthetic turf at the three high schools, but the board stipulated that the remainder of the cost would have to be privately raised. At the time, the cost was estimated at $1.7 million to $2.1 million.

That proposal has been scrapped because a committee said it was unable to raise sufficient matching funds.

The $980,000 in refinancing money must be spent by May 31.

On Monday, the administration and board discussed two new uses for those bond refinancing dollars — more than $400,000 for a West Vigo High School football practice field, with the balance to go toward the second phase of the West Vigo Middle School renovation project.

Both Terre Haute North and South have football practice fields, but West Vigo does not. West Vigo uses the baseball outfield for football practice. The School Board has previously indicated its concern about the situation at West Vigo, said Donna Wilson, school district chief financial officer. “We are prepared to move forward, at the board’s discretion, with this project,” she said.

Superintendent Dan Tanoos said that providing West Vigo High School with a practice field is a matter of equity, since both North and South have one. Also, when West Vigo football teams use the baseball outfield, “They have put a lot of dents and holes” in the outfield and have torn up the grass, Tanoos said.

“To make all three high schools equal, we propose moving forward with the practice field, but it is a costly item,” Tanoos said.

Wilson also is concerned about the future of the Capital Projects Fund, which could suffer some funding losses because of the “circuit breaker,” or property tax caps, which begin taking effect in 2009.

As a result, the administration proposes using the balance of refinancing dollars toward Phase 2 of the West Vigo Middle School renovation project. The 2009 budget sets aside $1.9 million for Phase 2, although Wilson indicated the actual cost might be less than $1 million.

Part of the project would involve interior renovation that provides greater security.

By using bond refinancing dollars toward that project, it will free up Capital Projects Fund dollars that could be used for other purposes — particularly if circuit breaker legislation and other factors have a negative effect on the Capital Projects Fund, Wilson said.

Board member Mel Burks asked about the cost of the proposed West Vigo High School practice field.

Part of the cost is because of the land that must be used, which will require excavation and removal of some trees, said Mytron Lisby, director of facility support and transportation. Also, some Duke Energy transmission lines will have to be moved.

The School Board will vote on the new proposal to use the refinancing dollars at its next meeting.

The board also approved a proposal to contribute up to $25,000 annually from the general fund to the Vigo County Education Foundation. It would be on a dollar-for-dollar, matching-fund basis and is aimed at encouraging other individuals and organizations to contribute to the foundation.

A new state law has made it possible for school districts to contribute general-fund money on a matching basis to a qualified education foundation.

The board also approved the 2009 budget. The total from all funds is $154 million. The maximum to be raised from local property taxes would be $34.7 million, and the maximum tax rate would be $1.08 per $100 assessed value.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.