The Marion County School District Board of Trustees did not pass a vote to construct a new lane six-lane track at East Marion, which would also serve West Marion, during a special called meeting Tuesday night. The vote was 2-2 with the fifth board member taking several minutes following the first four votes to ultimately decide to abstain from casting a vote.
Larry Jenkins of District 5 and Wendy Hammonds of District 4 voted in favor of the track, while Board President Jeff Brumfield of District 2 and Joe Bracey of District 1 voted against the track. Chrissy Holman of District 3 abstained from the vote.
Bracey expressed his concerns about the financial side of the project to open discussion on the track. He referenced the paving of the parking lots costing nearly $400,000 more than the accepted bid after foundation and drainage issues were discovered that had to be addressed as well as a recent drainage project at the votech center and other facility upgrades. He then asked Superintendent Michael Day how the track would affect the district’s budget following the recent expenditures.
Day responded that the district’s budget remains in good shape as the district’s fund balance, which is currently 24%, is higher than it was last year and more than three times the state minimum. He also referenced the district’s 16th section land funds being in good shape, which is what would be used to pay for the track. He said the track was already budgeted in the district’s eight-year plan that he detailed to the board in August, and the low bid ($733,000 from Sports Contractors LLC of Hattiesburg) actually came in lower than the amount that was budgeted for ($850,000).
“I would never want to put us in a position where we drop below 14% fund balance even though the state law is 7%. We have enough to pay for (the overages) with the fund balance, which Bonnie and Jim and I have been looking at all the funds to see what the best option is,” Day explained. “This track project comes directly from 16th section. These are two separate pots of money. (16th section) can only be used for certain things like this.”
Bracey then raised his concerns about the feasibility of a six-lane track when eight-lane tracks are required to host state and district track meets.
Day said while the proposed track would not be able to host a state track meet, it could host regular track meets and potentially district meets. He added he found out Tuesday morning there are other schools with six-lane tracks that have been allowed to host district meets after petitioning the Mississippi High School Activities Association. He further stated that East Marion would be the only school in Region 8-1A with a track if it were to be constructed.
The original plan, according to Day, was to construct an eight-lane track, but after the land was surveyed, it was learned the cost would more than double compared to the six-lane track. He explained that an eight-lane track would force the bleachers, light poles and press box to be moved back, which would cost nearly a million dollars alone. The home bleachers would have to be pushed up against the junior high building because there is a gravel pit seven feet behind the visitor bleachers, which would prohibit their relocation.
Brumfield asked why, after two years of considering this project, is the board finding about the potential to host district meets on the day of the vote.
“Isn’t that something we should have done up front?” he asked. “You’re wanting the board to make a decision tonight without having complete information.”
“I wouldn’t say so, Jeff,” Day countered. “I disagree with you.”
“We’re talking about an investment in the future of this program,” Brumfield responded. “You’re saying this is the only option.”
“I’m saying this is the best option,” Day clarified.
Bracey suggested the district do further research about the possibility of hosting district meets before voting. Brumfield agreed and said gaining clarity on hosting district meets would help the board make the best decision.
Day said he understands where they’re coming from and recommended the board move forward with the vote because if they don’t accept the bid and further look into an eight-lane track, it would likely delay the project a full calendar year.
Jenkins then stood up and spoke at length about how he sees the track project. He said he recently went to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and was stunned to find out the Perkinston campus has a six-lane track. He also found out that Brookhaven High School, a Class 5A school, hosted its district meet last year with a six-lane track.
“We need to approve the track. There’s still opportunity to ask for a change order. I just don’t see it (with an eight-lane track),” he said. “I just think it’s best we do what’s best for our kids, for both schools.”
After Brumfield asked if there were any more comments from the board, which was met with silence, he put it to a vote. Hammonds, Bracey, Jenkins and Brumfield cast their votes in quick succession. It then all rested squarely on the vote of Holman, who opted to ask a question rather than cast a vote.
“If we just waited to find out more information about the district (meets) like you were asking about, could we bring (the vote) up at a different time?” she asked.
Her question was met with a chorus of “why?” from multiple people in attendance. It was then clarified that because the comment portion of the meeting had already ceased and a vote had already been called for, the vote had to take place.
Holman then leaned in to talk with Bracey while Jenkins sat between the two seemingly in disbelief at what he was hearing, which could not be heard openly to the rest of the room. Holman then said she would like to table the vote and opted to abstain from casting a vote.
At the realization that the vote did not pass, the roughly 100-plus people in attendance, which included the track teams from both schools, were audibly frustrated and angry at the decision, or lack thereof.
Brumfield then motioned to end the meeting, which was seconded by Holman, but a community member then spoke up and asked the board members to explain to the children in attendance why they did not approve the track. Brumfield responded by trying to call the meeting to order to quell the chattering from the crowd. The board approved the closure of the meeting while community members in attendance continued to question the board members about the decision.
Following the meeting, Bracey, Brumfield and Holman declined comment on the decision. Jenkins accepted an interview request by the C-P following the vote and said he believes the best thing for the district is to move forward with the six-lane track and hopes it will pass at the board’s next meeting.
The C-P did not get an opportunity to ask Hammonds for comment.
