The School Board readdressed the track funding debate at Wednesday’s specially called meeting, leaning in favor of resurfacing the WCMS track.

“A $1 million price tag on doing a new track at the high school is probably out of scope at the present,” said Director of Schools Bobby Cox. “If the Rotary Foundation and the Bridgestone funds come in, from the school system side, we can definitely commit to the maintenance and upkeep of it, but we can’t commit a dollar amount without knowing how many dollars are coming in.”

Cox recommended the School Board apply for the grants then see where they’re at with the funding amount. 

“Would they go ahead and do that with those stipulations?” asked School Board member Helen Martin concerning the Rotary Club.

Answered School Board and Rotary Club member Bill Zechman, “We would do our best. So we commit to the track in principle after we see what we have in funds. Personally, I think we need to do the polymer coating.”

Cox also brought up future plans of having a track at WCHS.

“If we want to put in our strategic plan for long-term, a track at the high school with the stadium, we could look at that and work toward that, but if we did get grant funding for it this year, that grant funding has to be expended within a year,” explained Cox. “I don’t think a $1 million price tag is going to happen within a year so that way we could have a surface at the middle school that’s useable for our track teams to practice on.”

WCMS track coach Patty Kelly shared her opinion with the board.

“With the right maintenance, you can get a full decade out of the track,” said Kelly. “I think it will be a great milestone for us. I’m really happy that we are moving forward with the grants.”

Board members approved a motion to move forward with the track resurfacing project pending several grants with the possibility of the board matching some funds.