The Pearl River Central School District is ready to start construction on their new bleachers.
According to Superintendent Alan Lumpkin, construction will begin as soon as weather permits.
The old bleachers at the high school football field were demolished in March, which was something Lumpkin said needed to happen.
“It’s important because it was turning into a safety issue, we want our fans to be able to support our students in a safe environment,” said Lumpkin.
At PRC’s last school board meeting, the board was presented with three options on how to pay for the new bleachers.
Option one states that $784,000 will be taken from the district maintenance fund balance, which will put the balance at $3,900,000 in June if this option is chosen.
Option two states that $470,000 will be taken from the 16th Section interest funds, and the remaining $314,000 will be taken from the district maintenance fund balance. If this option is chosen 16th Section interest funds will be depleted, and the district maintenance fund balance will be an estimated $4,386,000.
Option three states that $470,000 will be taken from the 16th Section interest funds, and the remaining $314,000 will be borrowed from 16th Section principal funds. This option would deplete 16th Section interest funds, and the money that was borrowed will be paid back from the district maintenance funds over a ten-year period.
A decision on how to fund the bleacher project will be made at the next school board meeting set for May 4 at 5:30 p.m. However, Lumpkin said the board may choose to fund the project however they want, and that these options were just presented to them as suggestions.