Friday, Jul. 25, 2008

Facility Repairs, Upgrades Viewed as Needs

By Zach Warner

Staff Writer

Though it could be nearly a year or more before a decision to provide improvements might be made, Carroll athletic leaders are well aware of the work needed for facilities.

Track surfaces require repair. The need for more dressing rooms and coaching offices is seen as a concern. Weight-room additions and Dragon Stadium seating expansions have been discussed.

Although the needs are now, Carroll officials know it could be a long time before the improvements become a reality. It could be months, possibly years, before the district receives the green light to begin work on any of the athletic needs identified. They just hope the support is there when that time comes, Carroll Athletic Director Ronnie Tipps said.

"We’ve been pushing for some of this for a while," he said. "Of course, money’s always a factor."

That’s why the Carroll school district formed the Long-Range Facility Planning Committee earlier this year to compile a checklist of needs district-wide. Work found as necessary to improve athletic facilities, as well as equipment and construction needed to improve the academic and extracurricular experiences at school campuses, could be presented to the community in the form of a bond election.

Elections can only be called in November and May. At this stage in the planning, a November bond election appears unlikely, with a May 2009 date possibly the earliest that one could be set.

The committee, a 41-member board made up of taxpayers and district staff, is still in the process of putting the list of needs together. Examining issues such as the district’s future growth and current state of facilities, the committee is headed up by Robert Williams and broken up into various subcommittees.

"They’re a great group of people," Tipps said. "It’s always good when you have people from the community that make up a committee. They see the needs first-hand and can see for themselves.

"That helps give confidence to the rest of the community that this isn’t a list of needs coming just from the athletic department or the AD or anything like that," he said.

Members of Carroll’s athletic staff, located at various district campuses, have shown committee members the areas in which athletic-related facilities are lacking. At Carroll Middle School, more tennis courts are needed and stadium press box repairs are a concern. At Dawson Middle, weight room improvements and playing field work is necessary.

At Carroll High, dugout repairs to the baseball field and new locker rooms are identified. At Carroll Senior High, anything from new diving boards and more parking at the Carroll ISD Aquatics Center to gymnasium improvements have been discussed.

These and many other repairs to athletic-related equipment and facilities are necessary at all the campuses. Scoreboards are needed at several school playing fields, while other repairs, such as painting and sound system work, are required at Dragon Stadium.

Coaches expect that the work, if approved, would help athletics maintain high standards district-wide. Just like the work ethic instilled in the kids, providing excellence in facilities is seen as another way to avoid standing pat or settling for status quo.

"I think we’ve got good athletics coming," said Robert Ondrasek, Carroll cross country coach. "We’re talking about a bond that would help our facilities and that would help our programs a lot.

"As long as we keep getting the support of the community, I think it’s going to continue to be a fun ride," he said.