Improving athletic fields was a priority topic during the first meeting to get comment on a proposed building project.

About 15 people attended a public session at Scotia-Glenville Middle School Thursday on a roughly $12.7 million building renovation and athletic field project the Board of Education is considering.

The project would involve maintenance projects at schools, renovating science and technology classrooms and enclosing the open library at the middle school, and renovating technology classrooms at the high school. Included would be fixing the athletic fields with a multi-purpose field with a track and field event area and 500-seat bleachers.

Scotia-Glenville High School freshman Jaclyn Hart, 15, said she plays three sports including softball and has to deal with an outfield that is uneven.

“I get balls hit at me and I don’t know if they’re going to hit out my teeth or not,” she said.

Jamie Haver, who coaches softball, said the fields are just not safe.

“I tell my girls that play the infield positions ... wear their batting helmets when they go out into the field because it’s that dangerous,” he said.

Resident David Bucciferro said the community deserves field spaces that reflect the district’s successful programs.

“We have one of the best track programs that’s been around and we don’t even have a track anymore,” he said, adding that the track cannot be used because of safety issues.

Resident Vern Estes encouraged the district to look to businesses to donate money for athletic projects.

Resident Jerry Moore said the board should address other priorities besides sports, such as how to renovate the district office. “Sports is not a mandated program,” he said.

LIBRARY CONCERNS
While sports dominated much of the discussion, Jan Tunison, said she believes that the high school library should be addressed. The facility has a noisy heating and cooling system that makes it difficult for people to hear each other. Also, she believes there needs to be more than 80 seats for a school with about 1,000 students.

“There are times during the day where we have to turn students away,” she said.

For those that missed this session, the board is holding another informational meeting on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Scotia-Glenville Middle School. Also, people can view a presentation about the building project concepts and submit comments at the district Web site, www.Scotia-GlenvilleSchools.org.

Superintendent Susan Swartz said the district would likely have more public input sessions in September before a vote later in the fall.