High School Reveals Plans for New Track

After "quite some time," Bosse High School track and field students will be able to host meets starting next school year.

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Superintendent David Smith announced the project for a new track at Monday night's school board meeting.

Bosse students have used the current track for practice, Smith said, but no meets have been hosted at the high school for awhile.

He expects the new 6-lane track will bring Bosse "up to par" with other EVSC high schools. Construction on the $1 million, 90-day project is expected to start May 22.

Bosse's track has been renovated several times since it was installed in 1926, Smith said. However, water has seeped through the asphalt base and "really destroyed that."

"The track has been in bad shape for a number of years," Smith said. "So we're very happy to be able to provide this. ... Folks want to make sure that this project is actually going to come to fruition. This is our promise."

Smith said the new track will be re-situated, and the curve will be slightly adjusted so it will be a "perfect track" for 6 lanes.

The track will be funded by the EVSC through general obligation bonds, which Smith said have already been obtained, as well as capital projects funds.

Also on Monday, Smith launched the Keep Bosse First Campaign, a partnership with the EVSC Foundation, in hopes alumni and friends will make charitable contributions to fund other construction projects at Enlow Stadium.

"At one time there was some thought of razing Enlow Stadium. ... The stadium, structurally, is in very good shape," Smith said. "But we'd like to do some renovations to the stadium, as well as the tennis courts. So we think this is the first project of, hopefully, many to come."

Other priorities include a redesigned tennis complex, renovations to the stadium, roof and lighting, as well as a new concession stand and restrooms.

"It really is a community treasure and a community asset," Smith said. "It is the home stadium for Memorial (high school), as well. I think Memorial will hopefully be able to help with this. It will take many people to get accomplished."

In other news at the meeting, Cathy Gray, EVSC associate superintendent for families, school and community partnerships, proposed a price increase to morning and after-school daycare programs.

During information items at the meeting, Gray proposed weekly rate increases starting next school year.

The current fee for morning daycare is $15 a week. Gray proposed increasing that to $17 a week for next school year.

The current fee for after-school daycare is $35 a week. The proposed increase is $38 each week.

For families who take advantage of both morning and afternoon daycare, the current cost is $50 a week. The proposed increase is $55 weekly.

February 7, 2017