By GAGE WILSON
For Glasgow News 1
Discussions at Caverna’s December board of education meeting were heated Thursday night as board members deliberated items ranging from tennis court repairs to district improvement plans.
Superintendent Amanda Abell opened the meeting by updating the board on the district’s ongoing efforts to restore the tennis courts, which are used by both students and the public. Her main concerns revolved around safety. “There are some cracks out there that’re 2 to 3 inches,” she said. “I’m just afraid that a student would hurt themselves playing on those courts.”
Terry Bunnell, president of the Glasgow-Barren County Community Foundation and an avid tennis player, has been the project’s biggest advocate. He has spearheaded fundraising efforts through donations to assist the school. According to Abell, Bunnell’s foundation has raised approximately $2,500, with several hundred dollars donated directly to the school.
The district is also considering applying for a grant, which, if approved, would match half of the projected costs for the repairs. However, before applying, the courts must first be inspected by an architectural firm to assess the extent of the damage.
“They just have not been maintained throughout the years,” Abell said. “It’s not been resurfaced the way it should have. It’s up to the board though — if you feel that we shouldn’t pursue the grant — it’s up to the board. But we do need this engineer architect to give us what we need to apply.”
Board member Allison Dennison raised a question about the consultation cost, which Abell estimated to be $1,800.
Abell acknowledged some uncertainty about how extensive the inspection process might be. “The architectural firm I talked to said that they feel like it would just be a little maintenance and repair. But ultimately, we’re going to have to talk to KDE, and I feel like they’re going to say it’s a reconstruction project,” she said.
“I don’t want it to sound like I don’t want the tennis courts redone,” Dennison said. “I just think there are unanswered questions. I’m okay with the $1,800 if it won’t cost us any more once we have to go to a BG1 and we have to pay an architect and an engineer when we’re already out $1,800.”
“I don’t think we can answer that,” Abell replied. “This is just to be able to pursue the grant.”
Dennison expressed concern that the costs might escalate. “That’s a lot of money, to come up and say, ‘Yes, this is what you need,’ but yet this may not be what we have to have — come a BG1 — and then we have to pay another architect or another engineer.”
Despite her reservations, the board unanimously voted to pay for the consultation to move forward with the grant application.
The meeting shifted to the approval of the district’s Comprehensive District Improvement Plan, during which Dennison voiced her frustration. “So everyone on this board is a member of that committee but myself. That is a smack in my face, so I was just wondering, why?”
“The CDIP is a document — it is from 2022, I think, to 2025 — and those members were put on there at the beginning of that revision period,” District coordinator Whitney Paul said. She noted that the next revision period would be after 2025.
However, Dennison pointed out a potential inconsistency, referencing board member Jennifer Ballard. “She [Ballard] did not come onto the board until 2023.” Seeking clarification, Ballard explained that she had served on multiple committees prior to becoming a board member, which might account for the perceived discrepancy.
Ultimately, the board approved the improvement plan 4-1, with Dennison voting against it.
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