Track at Gaffney High not included in $45 million bond issue

A Gaffney High track was a missing piece from the $45 million bond issue school trustees approved this past week.

The bond issue funds ninth grade additions at Blacksburg and Gaffney high schools, a new Limestone Learning Center, a new Blacksburg High field house and stadium upgrade, a 6-classroom Goucher Elementary addition and a new Gaffney High football stadium. The bond issue does not include funding for a Gaffney High track.

While school trustees have discussed the track project for two years, no action has been taken beyond school board chairperson Sandra Greene's recent appointment of a subcommittee.

Gaffney High Athletic Director Phil Strickland, school board members Mike Ellis and Billy Blackwell, and a Gaffney High track coach are charged with studying the issue and making a recommendation on whether to build a new track at Gaffney High School.

Greene said she hopes the subcommittee can present an

update on the track project at the April 25 school board meeting.

Gaffney High School has not held a home track meet for a number of years because it lacks the proper equipment for field events. These include lanes and pit areas for the long jump, triple jump, pole vault and high jump.

Southern Management estimated the district could build

an eight-lane competition track beside the new Gaffney High stadium for $357,000. This cost estimate was presented on February 24, 2004, and would likely need to be revised.

The estimate was based on preliminary plans done by Spartanburg architects McMillan Smith, the firm designing the GHS stadium. Those plans involve a rubberized track with aluminum

bleacher seating for 250, restrooms and a storage facility.

The district's track subcommittee will discuss the project in more detail, including how a new track would be funded. A recommendation will be made to the school board.

"The track project has never been voted on by the board to this point," superintendent Dr. Bill James said.