Changes Add $150K to GRHS Fields Project

Work has barely begun to repair long-standing drainage issues and, but unanticipated costs are already emerging.

On Monday night, the school board in a 5-2 vote (with two members absent) signed off on change orders to add additional soil ($67,500) and to widen the lower soccer field ($85,263).

The request came from the athletic department, which wished to have both fields at 204 feet in width for uniformity purposes, Business Administrator Michael Rinderknecht said.

"We've just started and we have $152,763 in change orders," board member Terry Moore said in frustration, adding she recalled Rinderknecht previously stated change orders would be "minimal". Sheldon Hirschberg also voted against those two change order items.

In response to Moore's comments, Rinderknecht said his previous statements on change orders being "minimal" were related to the roofing project at Central School, not the drainage/improvement project to the athletic facility.

"I knew going into this high school athletic field drainage project there's many things that are variables out there and uncertainties, one of which is unsuitable soil," Rinderknecht said. "Clearly there are unknowns. For that reason we built in a $100,000 allocation to bring in suitable soil if necessary."

The project – now totaling $3,680,756 – includes drainage retention systems to prevent soggy fields, a turfing of the athletic fields, a re-grading of the track, a re-sodding of the baseball diamond, additional tennis courts, new bleachers and a press box, among other items.

Despite the change orders, the project .

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