CLEARFIELD – At Monday’s combined committee and board meeting, the Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors discussed the possible remedies for the current condition of the high school’s tennis courts.
Sam Maney, business manager, said he met with Jon Mikesell, athletics director; Kevin Wallace, acting school principal; and Rick Bunning, director of buildings and grounds.
He said they evaluated the courts’ current conditions as well as looked into repair and replacement options. He said they were told that the tennis courts were not repairable.
Bunning echoed he heard the same feedback, stating he was told replacement was the only resolution. He said many companies wouldn’t offer a warranty for repairs and didn’t have any interest in involvement in the project.
Bunning said if they had to close the courts, it would not only impact the tennis program, but also the student population and the public who use the facilities.
Mikesell said he had contacted District 9 about the present issue. He said they permitted the tennis program to play all their home matches at the away sites. He said he also contacted independent schools who also granted the same permission.
Mikesell said it would result in additional transportation costs. He indicated that the tennis coaching staff only takes the top nine players from both the boys and girls teams to away events.
Mikesell said as a result, the coach and the team would travel in a school van. He said in some cases, they may need a rental if the school’s van is being used by another program.
According to Mikesell, the Clearfield Borough Council approved for the school’s tennis program to use the courts at the driving park. He said their only stipulation was that it was not blocked off from the public.
Mikesell said signs would be posted, however, to notify the public of the school’s practice times. He anticipated that the program would use the courts approximately three days a week.
Mikesell said the tennis program averages about 15 – 25 players for each boys and girls teams. He said those numbers can fluctuate, depending on the freshman class. He said the coaching staff would likely run two practices.
“They’re willing to use the driving park to keep the program going,” Mikesell said. Maney added that a shuttle would be available to students for transportation to the driving park courts.
Dave Glass, board president, said the district currently has two viable options. He said they could either eliminate the tennis program or replace the courts at the high school.
Bunning said to replace the courts, the district would face an expense of $500,000. He said the cost is based on the courts remaining in their current location.
Bunning said they have found the original prints of the tennis courts. He said they’ve discovered a drainage problem at the current location due to a slope in the hill.
Bunning said the district would need to correct the draining problem if the courts remained there. He said the costs to do so were included in the $500,000 expense.
Bunning said he spoke with three companies about potential remedies. He said he didn’t explore a “temporary fix,” as none would warrant the option.
“We have to do something,” Putt said. “(Our) kids deserve to participate in the sport.”
Glass said it was great the borough granted the tennis program permission to use the courts at the driving park.
“But we can’t do it infinitely,” he said.