The Overton County School Board voted Tuesday night to use some $167,000 for upgrades to the Livingston Academy soccer field and softball field.
The board moved the money from existing funds. School Board Member Mike Hayes said the improvements at the soccer field consist of installing new LED field lights.
“The current lighting’s 20-plus years old… there are consistent problems every week where they blow breakers, and have to flip them back on and off, but we will just upgrade to new lighting, LED lighting, and just an upgrade to the lighting system at the soccer field,” Hayes said.
Hayes said the new lights will not only improve reliability but also visibility. To reduce costs, Hayes said the district opted to move forward with the project outside of its current architectural program.
“So the architects are currently doing our building program, so we would have done cheaper just to do it on our own versus including an architect program,” Hayes said.
In addition to the soccer upgrades, the board is continuing improvements to the Livingston Academy softball field, an area that has drawn attention from the community in recent years. Hayes said some improvements have already been completed.
“So far, the new fence has been put up, the new netting has been put up,” Hayes said. “The new backstop and the dugouts… will be done now that the season’s over.”
Hayes said improved dugouts will involve block laying and could not be done during the season. Hayes also said the school system was able to save some money on the project through a partnership with TCAT Livingston.
“TCAT’s actually going to do the labor for us on there to save money,” Hayes said. “We’re just buying the materials on that. So after all that’s done, everything should be improved at the softball field.”
Hayes said the upgrades will bring the softball facility up to standard and reflect the district’s ongoing commitment to improving student opportunities. Hayes said the improvements go beyond athletics, representing a broader investment in students across the district.
“Absolutely invest in the athletic program, but… invest in our students,” Hayes said. “Every aspect of everything that our students participate in, we’ll continue to look and invest.”
Hayes said the school board plans to continue evaluating other facilities across the county as funding allows.
In other business, the school board approved tenure for Alyssa Blackmon, Haley Stover, Jae Olliver, Jake Tibbs, Karli Holland, Leslie Schermerhorn, Marlee Sells, Todd Wright, and Caitlin Scarlett.
The School Board recognized several employees for 20 years of service. Those employees are Allison Goolsby, Janet Thompson, Jenny Miller, Shirley Savage, Tammy Story, and Timmy Breeding.
The school board also approved several policy changes. School Board secretary Crystal Nelson said they are recommendations from TSBA.