Norton Officials to Seek Bid for New High School Track, Bleachers

In addition to the school itself, officials will be seeking a facelift for the track and bleachers at Special Town Meeting in June.

Beforehand, a bid will be put out for $825,000 that will confirm the actual cost of the project.

With this money, the track will be taken up and the asphalt underlayment will be re-ground and reused to create the new base. Cracks were patched last summer as a temporary fix. According to superintendent Dr. Patricia Ansay, the material used in the current track dates back to the mid 80s.

The bleachers will also be replaced. Currently, a section is taped off for safety reasons.

“In all lanes of the track there are holes, and cracks, which could roll any runners ankle if they aren’t paying attention. Also, just recently one of the bleachers snapped as some of the athletes were waiting for their race, leaving a hole where a plank should be,” Norton boys track head coach Kent Taylor said.

The cost of this project to the town could be reduced even further by June. Donations of $1,000 donations were received from Folan Waterproofing and Brouillette & Sons. Norton Cable contributed $65,000 last week for the press box. And funds will be contributed from the Field of Dreams and Facility Rental accounts as well.

“Between having actual bids and deducting donated funds, we hope to confirm lower project cost before Town Meeting,” Ansay said.

If this project does not get approved at Town Meeting, the school’s track teams could be affected.

“If for any reason the track is declared inappropriate by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, we could no longer practice at nor hold meets at the school, which would be a terrible shame given the incredible recent growth in the program and the performance of this year’s track teams,” Ansay said.

Not only are school officials and parents worried about the safety of athletes and spectators, but it is also a matter of pride.

“Without fail, at every meet the opposing team has had not only negative comments, but they laugh at the state of the track and our bleachers,” Taylor said. “This has not just been this year but for many of the previous years.”

Parent Holly Delano agrees. “The track is dangerous,” she said. “Through many years of wear and tear as well as improper clearing of the track in the bad weather, it's so bad that other schools will not want to risk the well being of their students on it. It is an embarrassment.”

Ansay believes that it is important to take care of the bleachers and track now, even though they are also seeking voters to approve the High School Building Project.

“This project would not have the support of the selectmen and the school, finance and building committees if everyone who has personally seen the track and bleachers did not agree,” she said.

Taylor agrees. “I do believe that the school needs to purchase a new track and new bleachers right now because this track is as old as the school itself is and if we wait the town may not agree with this important decision,” he said.

Donate to the track and bleacher fund can be sent in care of Dr. Ansay at 64 W. Main St., Norton to the NHS Athletic Complex Account.