2/28/13 - Phase one construction projects planned for Brighton High School and Scranton Middle School as part of the $88 million bond issue passed by voters last May have been approved, despite opposition by a couple of Board of Education members. The work includes over $12 million worth of projects at Brighton High School and over $3 million at Scranton Middle School. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI most of the projects at the two schools approved at the meeting Monday night will involve exterior work. Most of the work approved at Scranton pertains to the new athletic complex to be constructed, which will include a stadium for football, soccer, track, lacrosse and rugby. Eight tennis courts will be constructed and the complex will include restrooms, a press box and other amenities. Board Trustee Nick Fiani complained about the tennis courts at Scranton, saying they were frivolous in times of deficit budgets such as the board is facing, and considering the high school is getting 12 new tennis courts. Constructions representatives cautioned that if they were to remove the courts, the entire Scranton field project would have to be re-bid and then resubmitted to the state resulting in the stadium not being completed by the fall football season. Gray added that the tennis courts at Scranton were added as a response to a community survey indicating such facilities were needed on the southern side of the school district. Despite that, Fiani moved that the tennis courts be stricken from the Scranton plan, but the motion failed 4-2, with John Conely siding with Fiani. Conely was unhappy with the Scranton bids in general and moved to table action pending a special meeting, but the motion was defeated on a 3-3 vote. Board member Jay Krause was absent from the meeting, resulting in the tie. (JK)
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