The Kaneland School District’s Board of Education has committed up to $1.1 million to replace the Kaneland High School track after a significant push for the project by parents, alumni and other community members.
The track, central to the district’s prized track and field program, was deemed unsafe for use during this year’s track season by high school administration, according to reports. The track’s condition forced the relocation of the Peterson Boys Prep Invitational and a girls home track meet this spring to West Aurora High School.
Early into the Kaneland School District Board of Education meeting on Monday night, many parents and community members shared their concerns about the track and the impact its poor condition is having on the track program.
Most shared similar sentiments – praising the district’s track program and its impact on students while questioning how the district could have let the track itself deteriorate. Some speakers said the community has been bringing the track’s poor condition to the board for years.
“The track team is more important to these kids than you will ever know,” said Teddy Janecek, who ran track when he attended Kaneland High School and whose son is currently in the school’s track program. “Please do the right thing by supporting our athletes and fixing the track. It is way overdue.”
Later in the meeting, Kaneland board members discussed the particulars of the project, such as how much work would need to be done, where the funds would come from and what a construction timeline would look like, but never did a board member question the project’s necessity.
Board members eventually voted unanimously to rebuild the track from the ground up using money from the district’s Operation and Maintenance Fund reserves.
The vote also took $500,000 previously dedicated to a parking lot resurfacing project, which a number of contractors had already put bids in for, and shifted it to the track project, effectively pushing back any parking lot resurfacing.
The plan for the track, presented by district architect Dan Kritta, is to strip the track all the way down to its gravel foundation and, where the gravel has deteriorated, strip it down to the dirt. Then, the track would be completely rebuilt, using existing gravel if possible in the foundation, he said.
After old gravel is checked for quality and any new gravel is brought in, asphalt would be laid on top, Kritta said. A coating would then be applied on top of the asphalt, he said.
Also included in the cost are some drainage solutions to stop groundwater from rising and damaging the track, something that is likely contributing to its current poor quality, according to Kritta.
He said the true extent of the project will not be known until a geological survey, which will look at the condition of the foundation of gravel and other factors, is completed sometime within the next few weeks.
If the gravel is found to be in good condition, the project may cost the district significantly less than the $1.1 million earmarked for the work, Kritta said.
Because of the urgency of the work, he said the district’s engineers will be designing the project as it goes out for public bid and the selected contractor begins demolition work.
With this somewhat unusual approach, the project should be completed by September if the weather allows, according to Kritta.
He said that, if all goes according to plan, contractors should be mobilized by the beginning of July.
Construction would not impact football season, Kritta said, because any work still needed to be done can be completed between home games.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com