WEST YORK, Pa. — The West York Area School District voted unanimously to move forward with the $20 million athletic field renovations project in last night's board meeting.
Despite hearing numerous residents, parents and students voice their concerns about the price and how taxes would rise for the first time in six years, the board decided to move from phase one to phase two.
During phase one, the Board established a plan to address the needs identified by the district. The proposal includes upgrades to the high school track, concession stand restrooms and bleachers. It will also upgrade facilities to be handicap accessible.
Phase two would be moving on to the zoning and engineering phase, where the borough and township committee will determine the design and make sure it meets the threshold established by each municipality. This phase may cost additional dollars for zoning approval.
The biggest change: playing fields would be replaced with artificial turf. This is also the biggest expense, according to the board.
Residents say that they would rather see the money go towards funding education and curriculum. Others expressed their dissatisfaction with raising taxes.
Many expressed they would like the board to pump the brakes on the project and to answer more of their questions.
“When I saw where we rank, I could not believe that you want to spend this kind of money on track and field, and softball and baseball and whatnot, when we have failing students,” said Connie Bahager.
“If you feel necessary to do this, please pare it back, do it in stages, save some money, and help the taxpayer out,” said Ralph Brandt. “I'm not going to go hungry if it goes up, I'm not going to go hungry if it goes up twice what you're talking about, but unfortunately, I know there are a lot of people in our community who are, and those are the ones I care about."
"I, along with other taxpayers, would like the West York School Board to pause the athletic project, for many of us feel that there were too many unanswered questions,” said Carol Daniels. She added, “Did they research other schools that have turf, did they inquire about the longevity of that turf, did they find out from other schools about the negative and positive of turf on the athletes as well as the community?”
According to the WYASD website, the Board has not raised taxes in six years and has created a 2024-2025 school year budget that includes a tax increase. With or without this project, a tax increase would have been inevitable. The Board discussed a 5.3% tax increase at work sessions and board meetings
The board says they discussed what turf would be best suited for the field: a hybrid turf, which is a mix between grass and turf. However, no study or research has been done because it would need to be done in the zoning stage—which can’t go forward without a vote.
The board voted unanimously to move forward with the project after hearing numerous comments about not wanting to move forward. However, the board says, prices are rising around the country, so the price tag isn’t new.
“Many, if not all, school districts are faced with increasing operating costs, a couple of people mentioned inflation and everything is going up and we all see it at the grocery store, put gas in your car…All those things roll right into our expenditure, and we’re limited on how we can run the district.”
Here’s the breakdown of what will be renovated and the cost associated:
- New Multi-Sport Main Stadium: Approximate cost $7,215,000
- Seating for 3,500
- Turf
- Lighted
- Fenced
- Accessible Seating
- Improved Concessions/Restroom Access
- New Multi-Purpose Mini Stadium: Approximate cost $2,085,000
- Seating for 1,000
- Turf
- Lighted
- Fenced-in
- Improved Concessions/Restroom Access
- High School/Middle School Campus Fields: Approximate cost $3,800,000
- Lighted Fields
- Additional Parking and On-campus Thoroughfares
- ● Trimmer Fields (accessible from Brenda Road): Approximate cost $4,160,000
- Improved Concessions/Fieldhouse/Restroom Access Lighted Baseball Field
- Parking and Thoroughfare Access to Existing Trimmer Parking
- Lighted Softball Field (new)
- Improved Concessions/Fieldhouse/Restroom Access
- Parking and Thoroughfare Access to Existing Trimmer Parking
- Parent Pickup Improvements
- Contingency for Projects: Approximate cost $2,847,500
- Mechanical Upgrades at Trimmer and Lincolnway: Approximate cost $4,300,000
- Total Cost of Project: $20,107,500