Stadium to get $16,778 sound system
News editor
Warrior Stadium sound system and press box upgrades generated the most discussion at a school board meeting Monday.
The Marion-Florence board unanimously approved purchase of a new $16,778 sound system from Sound Products Inc. of Topeka, the sole bidder.
“I thought we’d have more than one quote,” Superintendent Lee Leiker said. “He’s the only one who came to the stadium to take a look.
“We’ve struggled with the sound system out there the past few years.”
Loudspeakers and an amplifier will be mounted on the Warrior Stadium’s new scoreboard at the south end of the football field. In addition to improved audio quality, the system is capable of producing sound effects.
“When you think of all your big stadiums, where does the sound come from? It comes from the end, down by the scoreboard. That’s what we’re going to do here. It will cover both sides,” Leiker said.
A portion of the cost may be covered by donations.
“We have a local person who is willing to put $2,500 to $3,000 toward this from some memorial money,” Leiker said.
Board member Jan Helmer asked whether another firm, McClellan Sound, bid on the project.
“That’s one I contacted, and they didn’t follow up. I think they’re more indoor,” Leiker said.
Installment of the scoreboard and resurfacing of the track already approved for this summer are on schedule, Leiker said.
The two-level press box is the next item on the district’s list of stadium improvements. The current press box is deteriorating, Leiker said, and a committee of Chris Sprowls, Grant Thierolf, Tod Gordon, Mike Powers, and Gene Winkler has been working on options.
“It leaks pretty bad, the siding is coming off of it, the wood is rotting in places,” Leiker said. Accommodating needs for the Marion public access cable TV broadcast team, home and visiting coaches, and radio broadcasting has become challenging.
“Our dream at this point is that we’d like to have it all on one level and broaden it out,” Leiker said.
The proposed new press box would stretch the length of Warrior Stadium.
“Ideally we’d like to get this done before football season, but I’m not sure that’s a reality. It’s going to have to go through the state fire marshall’s office for approval,” Leiker said. “The idea is to do it with volunteer help,” Leiker said. The district would pay for the materials, the cost of which has yet to be determined.
Butler lease
The board approved a five-year lease for Butler Community College to occupy space and provide services at Marion High School.
Butler will pay $6,000 annually, with the district able to increase rent by up to 15 percent if the district’s costs escalate, Leiker said.
In addition to classroom space, eight parking spots behind the Performing Arts Center will be designated for daytime Butler students. The district and Butler will continue to discuss signs for the new location, Leiker said.
In other business:
- President Chris Sprowls and vice president Sarah Cope, vice president, were unanimously re-elected.
- Central National Bank was designated official bank, breaking a cycle in which district business had been rotated among local banks on three-year cycles. Leiker recommended staying with Central because of recent changes in payroll and finance systems. This would allow new business manager Jordan Metro to ensure systems are operating as they should before transferring accounts to another bank, Leiker said.
- School lunch prices were raised five cents to offset increased costs in complying with nutritional requirements. Student meal costs will be: $1.50 for breakfast and $2.10 for lunch through sixth grade and $1.75 for breakfast and $2.35 for lunch for older students.
- After a 20-minute executive session, the board approved pay rates of $12.85 per hour for Title I aide Cindy Vinduska, $12.85 per hour, and $11 per hour for bus driver Larry King.
- The next scheduled meeting of the board is 7 p.m. Aug. 11at the district office.