Concerns about stalled facility updates and communication gaps highlighted the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees meeting Monday, sparking discussions about Title IX regulations and the conditions of athletic spaces.
When trustee Robert Smith asked about a delay in purchasing a pair of bleachers for the Columbus High School baseball field, Chief Financial Officer Holly Rogers explained she had asked the maintenance department to hold off on the order until the spring semester due to spending on other ongoing facilities projects and possible equity concerns.
“We can’t really purchase anything else for baseball until we do something else for softball to keep in regulation with Title IX,” Rogers told the board.
Smith said the bleachers should have been ordered a while ago based on previous discussions in board meetings. Rogers said one set of bleachers had already been purchased, but the other pair was placed on hold.
Smith emphasized the board had previously been told the bleachers would be ordered sooner, adding that the board should have been notified about that change.
“My thing is, as a board member, we were told one thing, and it was changed and no one told us anything,” he said. “We could have been informed.”
Trustee James Richardson agreed, bringing up a similar situation concerning new chairs for the football complex.
“It was said (in a meeting) before that they were purchased and just waiting for arrival,” Richardson said. “But the chairs for football aren’t here either, so nobody was updated on the change.”
Smith said the lack of communication when it comes to board-approved plans changing is concerning.
“It’s not just baseball that I’m concerned about,” Smith said, addressing Rogers. “There are things that we’ve been told as a board that ‘we were going to get these.’ They were going to be ordered, (and then) there were changes made. It looked like someone would inform the board.”
Smith asked why neither Rogers nor Superintendent Stanley Ellis had told the board. Ellis proposed adding such changes to his weekly update he gives the board, but Richardson took it a step further.
“We’re going to need a timeline because we’ve requested stuff since I’ve been on the board that several months have passed and there (isn’t any follow up),” Richardson said. “I guess if we’ve got to set deadlines for us to get answers, I guess that’s what we need to do.”
Ellis said he would provide the board with tentative timelines for similar issues and keep them updated about any changes.
Facility conditions
Later in the meeting, Smith clarified that the baseball facilities aren’t his only concern.
“I’m concerned about all sports and about academics also,” he said.
Referencing a board visit to the football athletic facilities, he said the conditions in the field house are “horrible.”
“Regardless of who neglected it, it was neglected,” Smith said. “… From the restrooms and the showers, there was mold … even your crown molding had tape holding it up there. So why would our kids have to be under those conditions?”
Of the facilities used primarily by the softball team, including its concession stand and press box, Smith said they are in better shape than those used by the baseball team.
Part of the $36 million bond voters approved in May will go toward addressing issues at the athletic complex. The third phase of bond-funded projects focuses entirely on the CHS athletic complex and is estimated to cost roughly $10 million.
The phase includes a complete renovation of the field house as well as a Title IX addition to the field house. The batting cages will also be updated, along with the addition of a new restroom.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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