Kenston Community Education Raises New Turf Idea
Kenston Schools may be getting some new turf installed, said Jennifer Moore, director of Kenston Community Education, during the Dec. 16 Kenston Schools Board of Education meeting.
Kenston Schools may be getting some new turf installed, said Jennifer Moore, director of Kenston Community Education, during the Dec. 16 Kenston Schools Board of Education meeting.
During a follow-up interview, Moore said a group of seniors came up with the idea of the new turf in a senior course that focuses on problem-based learning, where students come up with a problem and find a solution.
Not all project ideas come to fruition, but this one has in partnership with KCE, a user-funded program.
“In this particular case, a couple of seniors came to me and they wanted to put in a practice turf on fields four and five, which (are) in the front of the high school, and we had already discussed doing that,” she said.
Moore said the district lacks space where students can practice in the spring without having to pay for an indoor facility.
“It would be used all the time, between Kenston, you know, our youth soccer program, our youth football program, both travel and rec, our youth lacrosse program, baseball, softball can practice on it because there will be … an infield in each corner for them so they could practice,” Moore said.
“It’s going to be something that we put in and you own it,” she added during last Monday’s meeting.
Moore also mentioned other changes, such as a new weight room and concession stand.
“We gave $10,000 for the new weight room and I just got approval last night for $12,000 to help with the concession stand,” she said at the meeting. “So, we’re really excited to be a part of that.”
In the followup interview, Moore said the district hasn’t had a driving program since before the pandemic, adding the driver’s-ed course with Suburban Driving School will begin the in-person classes at Gardiner Elementary in February.
Superintendent Bruce Willingham said the district is releasing a new website and app that will go live Dec. 26.
“The best part about it is, it’s not a scaled down, you know, version (app) … like those mobile ones. It’s a true functional app and … you’re going to be able to get live push notifications right through it,” he said. “Parents will be able to sign up for just the schools that they have kids in or if they want district news.”
Willingham also said he’s reached out to various departments to begin listing their “wish list” for the 1-mill permanent improvement levy that passed in November.
“I will tell you, it is one heck of a wish list,” he said. “The last time I checked, and I know we’re over it now, we were about $3.8 million and (Treasurer) Seth (Cales) and I just started laughing like, you know the levy only generates about $1.3 (million), right?”
Willingham said he and Cales will meet with departments to narrow down their needs.
Once they announce the recommendation in February, they can start getting quotes and start scheduling services. The dollar amount will be released in August, he said.
