School Board OKs $360K in soccer field upgrades

The Grafton School Board voted last week to move forward with the construction of a concession stand and restrooms at the high school varsity soccer field. 

The $360,000 project is slated to begin in August and wrap up in October, completing the third and final phase of Grafton’s “Enhancing Our Future” athletic facility improvement campaign that began in 2018. 

Duffek Construction will execute the plans drafted by Groth Design Group of Cedarburg, which also designed the ongoing expansion of John Long Middle School.

“We believe that state-of-the-art facilities are crucial for providing a balanced and comprehensive experience for all our students, whether their talents lie in the classroom or on the field,” Supt. Jeff Nelson told Ozaukee Press.  “The addition of restrooms and an updated concession stand will significantly enhance the overall athletic experience for our students, coaches and community when attending our games. Building on positive feedback from prior athletic upgrades, we believe these high-quality facilities bolster enrollment and retention, underscoring our commitment to excellence across the board.”

One factor driving the project, which was endorsed by the Finance Committee, is the fact Grafton High School is the only North Shore Conference school without permanent restrooms at its varsity soccer field, Business Services Director Topher Adams told the board during the May 19 meeting.

If the project is pushed off, Adams said, construction costs can be expected to increase. This would make financing the project more difficult and “lead to concerns” regarding two large donations — $60,000 and $50,000 — that were pledged specifically for the soccer field improvements.

The Finance Committee decided not to recommend the project last year, instead recommending that the administration work with soccer families to “see what funds they might be able to bring to the table.” Since then, estimated construction costs have increased by $22,500. 

Meanwhile, however, Grafton families have raised an additional $68,000 for the project, leaving a funding deficit of $117,000. 

  Fundraising efforts for naming rights to the field and a scoreboard memorial are ongoing, but Adams said the balance of the cost of the project could be taken from the district’s capital maintenance fund while still maintaining a positive balance over the next 10 years.

“In the meantime, I think it’s a matter of do we want to do this or not?” School Board member Mark Kohler said. “I think we need to get this done, regardless of where the money comes in.”

Board Vice President Caroline Walls cast the only vote against accepting Duffek Construction’s bid and moving forward with the project.

When the “Enhancing Our Future” campaign began, it included a fourth phase consisting of “wish list” items, but it has since been decided that completing the varsity soccer facility is a “great phase to end on,” Nelson said.

Since 2018, the initiative has resulted in updates to the entrance of Kellner Field and addressed safety concerns by installing artificial turf at the baseball, softball and stadium fields and reseeding and regrading the soccer field. The $4.9 million in projects was funded outside of the $39.9 million referendum passed in 2017, which did not include funds to improve athletic facilities.

“We are fortunate to live in a community that has supported us financially in our fundraising efforts to upgrade our athletic facilities,” Nelson said.

Once the athletic facility improvements are complete, the district will focus on renovating the Grafton High School auditorium, Nelson said.