Schools' capital plan includes sports complex

“It is a living, breathing document,” Greg Faught explained as he outlined the Enterprise City Schools Five Year Capital Plan at the Enterprise Board of Education work session Aug. 16.

“Each year we are required to update our capital plan and have it to the state by September,” said Faught, who is the Enterprise City Schools Assistant Superintendent and the person charged with implementation of the plan that runs through the year 2021.

“We have a team of people who work together on this plan,” Faught said. “This is a snapshot of what we propose to do for the next five years.”

Enhanced security measures and safe entries at each of the schools has been a priority, Faught said adding that they are now in place at Pinedale, Rucker Boulevard and Holly Hill Elementary Schools.

Eight new classrooms at the Enterprise Early Education Center, four of which will serve as part of the school’s ICC-500 rated shelter, are built. Dauphin Junior High School’s safe entrance and new ICC-500 rated shelter, which will double as a cafeteria, should be completed within weeks. A major overhaul of the Dauphin administrative office is complete.

A new sports complex at Enterprise High School is proposed on the capital plan for the 2019 school year but after discussion among board members at the Aug. 16 work session, ECS Schools Superintendent Dr. Camille Wright said that, with board agreement, she would begin preliminary research into more specific costs associated with building the complex.

Some $2.5 million is the estimated cost for the complex for baseball, softball, tennis and track programs at the high school, according to the five-year plan.

“In order to start in 2019, we’re going to have to start earlier to look at land and some preliminary work that needs to be done,” Wright said. “So, we can put that in a plan for next year, to start with surveys so we have a plan to be ready to go.

EBOE member Dr. Danny Whitaker asked if the sports complex plan included indoor practice facilities. “I think this is a good week to talk about that because for the past week nobody has been able to practice due to lightning and rain,” Enterprise High School Athletic Director Trent Trawick said, adding that an indoor practice facility could also be used for band, football or spring sports. “It could also serve as our ninth grade field house during their season.”

“Even if we have to do it in stages, would it be the board’s pleasure for us to start firming up numbers,” Wright asked.

“We need firm numbers in order to start moving forward,” EBOE member Bert Barr said. “I’d like to look at firmer numbers.”

Also as part of the five year plan, ground was recently broken for site preparation work at the new Coppinville Junior High School. The new school is expected to be completed and ready for students before the 2018 school year begins.

“I think this whole capital planning campaign stands as a strong example of how careful planning and sound decisions can be leveraged into positive outcomes for our students and our community,” Faught said. “There’s been a lot of thought, a lot of collaboration, and lot of cooperation involved in this.”

Upgrading all florescent lights to LED lighting, new windows, wireless technology implementation, and HVAC upgrades are items in the capital plan. “We spend a lot of money on technology but it is a good investment,” Faught said.

“We’ve got flat roofs on most of the schools and with about 50 inches of rain per year, that is not a not a good recipe for schools,” he added.

“We want to keep our children safe, secure, warm and dry,” Faught said. “It’s not a big investment if we’re going to protect what’s inside our schools.”