The Germantown Municipal School District is moving forward with a softball complex for Houston High athletes, but some options will have to wait.
The suburb’s Board of Education approved a bid Tuesday night from Grinder, Taber & Grinder to complete some of the Houston High softball facilities. Also in the meeting, members unanimously approved a four-year contract for Superintendent Jason Manuel – meaning it won’t expire until 2025, moving it off the election cycle for board members.
Grinder, Taber & Grinder is also the company working on Houston Middle School’s addition.
The athletic complex price of $4.7 million was higher than the board anticipated, so a turf outfield, concession stand and press box were removed from the plans for now.
Board member Brian Curry hopes Houston Middle School and Riverdale School students can use the new facility. He called the complex a “must have,” but the concession stand and other amenities are “nice-to-haves.”
“The nice-to-haves are not in the cards today, but I want to assure the parents and the community in general, they won’t be forgotten,” Betsy Landers, the board’s vice chairwoman, added.
The board reviewed a budget amendment of about $1.76 million to accommodate the price. The extra funds were taken from reserves.
For two years the board has made decisions leading to improved facilities for its softball players equal to those of Houston’s baseball team.
The board hopes the press box, concession stand and remaining turf may be sponsored by a donor, community partner or through team fundraisers. A concession stand exists in what was formerly Houston Levee Park, land now owned by GMSD. The Mustangs could use that until their own concessions stand is built.
There could be another review of this facility soon. Chairwoman Amy Eoff asked Deputy Superintendent Josh Cathey if the district could go ahead and do the necessary infrastructure for the concession stand and a press box. Cathey said he would ask the contractors and return with a possible change order.
The contract shift for Manuel did not change the terms, only the date. Landers said the contract was brought forward due to a conversation last year relating to renewing the contract on election years. Since the GMSD’s inception, it has renewed Manuel’s contract every two years.
“He did not seek this extension,” she said.
Landers said many districts in Tennessee consider extensions to recognize a job well done.
Board member Ryan Strain said his vote was not due to getting the renewal off of election years, but he praised Manuel’s leadership over the last year.
During the meeting, a few parents addressed the board with concerns about students not masking and the quarantine policy. Similar concerns were expressed by Collierville parents in their Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening.