Warren County Schools Push $140K Tennis Court Fix Now, Full Rebuild Next

Warren County’s high school tennis courts are set for a quick fix so teams can practice by February, while a full rebuild is likely to follow next year.

Acting Superintendent Dr. J. David Martin told the School Board, at the September 17th work session, that tennis courts were one of the first problems he heard about on the job. “Probably the first week I was on the job, I started hearing about tennis courts,” he said. After a visit to Skyline High School, he found the courts “had been closed and… were in disrepair.”

A geotechnical report in the board packet backs that up. Engineers drilled borings at both high schools and listed the trouble spots. “There’s poor drainage, which has compromised the courts in several places,” Dr. Martin said. He added there was “not the level of compaction under the courts that is required… and there wasn’t the level of compaction for the asphalt used for the surfacing of the courts.”

In August, the Board of Supervisors approved $240,000, with $100,000 for classroom flooring and $140,000 set aside as a start on tennis courts. Dr. Martin asked the School Board to now seek appropriation of the $140,000 for a short-term repair so practice can start on time. “I understand that’s when they’re going to start practicing,” he said of the February season. He noted “many tennis players… are renting spaces to get ahead of the season… but there’s no place to play around here.”

Dr. Martin was clear: the stopgap won’t solve everything. “I realize that this is a short-term fix,” he said. Long term, “I think they all have to be dug up, and I think we have to start over. We have to put in proper drainage, and we can’t keep repairing courts over and over again.”

Several board members pointed to the geotech report’s permanent options. “The options one and two that are contained within the borings report… would be permanent,” Board Member Melanie Salins said. Another highlighted Option is 2—full depth reclamation. “I’ve had the opportunity to speak to two different experts… and have had great success with it and have said that it’s significantly less expensive,” she said.

That same member urged the division to seek help from the original builder, Shockey. “I’m hoping that we are going to be able to work with and negotiate with Shockey… the right thing to do… would be for them to assist in some way,” Salins said. She added she spoke with Delegate Bill Wiley, who works for Shockey, and asked him to advocate for the schools. “He agreed,” she said. Dr. Martin said, “I’ve reached out to Shockey, and we will be scheduling a meeting in the near future.”

What will the $140,000 cover right now? “We’re filling in the cracks,” Dr. Martin said. “We’re going to make the surfaces playable.” He said staff will move fast if the Board of Supervisors releases the funds. “If this is approved tonight… we will start tomorrow getting quotes or whatever we have to do.” Because the schools were built under PPEA, he said the process “may allow us… an emergency quote rather than going through an extensive quoting process.” As for timing, he was direct: “Are we anticipating that these repairs are likely to happen before February? Absolutely.”

Dr. Martin warned that skipping the interim fix could “compromise the program,” forcing shared courts, rentals, extra travel, and more costs. “I realize that $140,000 is an investment… for these kids to play,” he said. “If we don’t do that, it could compromise the program.”

The School Board voted unanimously to seek an appropriation from the Board of Supervisors to repair the tennis courts at Warren County High School and Skyline High School now, and to place a full rebuild in next year’s capital improvements plan.

“We will be talking about this more in the upcoming capital improvements plan,” Dr. Martin said. “There has to be an item of what we’re going to do with the tennis courts.”

Video courtesy of WCSB.