Virginia school board pushes through new track

By Gary Scott on June 25, 2016 at 11:10am

Virginia’s school board approved the construction of an athletic running track for the school district Monday night.

The 350-meter, four-lane rubberized asphalt track will cost around $320,000, according to Superintendent Brent O’Daniell. He says a $100,000 anonymous grant intended for a new track will help pay for it, plus left over money used to construct Virginia’s new high school.

“This has been discussed by the school board since the end of the construction process for the school itself. There’s been a lot of discussion amongst board members concerning what to do with the excess money, and there was a lot of discussion Monday night before they voted on it,” he says.

The vote was 5-2 in favor.

O’Daniell says the track isn’t IHSA-approved, so there will be no postseason track meets, but he says the school can host smaller meets.

“We’re involved in high school cooperatives from the sports standpoint with Triopia and Meredosia. Several of the high school activities are hosted at Triopia, and the board and I are excited to hopefully be hosting a cooperative situation in Virginia. Which we have been, but now we can [host] some home meets, as well,” says O’Daniell.

Construction is expected to start this summer, and officials are hoping for a mid-November completion date.