The Board of Education approved a $5,000 transfer from its athletic fund balance to cover the construction cost of creating a path for the high school’s cross country team members running north along Ridgebury Road.
James Howley, a parent of cross-country runners, presented the project to the board Monday night after securing the necessary construction permits with the town’s building and wetlands departments and approval of neighbors.
“The existing path runs alongside Ridgebury Road up to Ledges Road without any bailout, which means students are running in the road or running in the neighbors’ front lawns,” Mr. Howley explained. “There’s a sharp left turn at the top of the road that is very dangerous.”
Paul Hendrickson, the district’s business manager, agreed and advised the board to approve the transfer.
He walked the site recently with Joe Morits, the district’s facilities manager, and called it “a terribly dangerous stretch.”
“Joe and I had to dodge cars ourselves,” he said.
He added that the board had adequate funds to go ahead with the transfers, which they voted unanimously to do.
“It’s something that should have been done a long time ago,” said Athletic Director Carl Charles. “It’s serious safety issue.”
Hearing that testimony convinced the board of the project’s worthiness, but there was still questioning over why the educators had to foot the bill.
“We’re spending more and more of excess funds on town issues and I continue to have a problem with it,” said board member Michael Raduazzo. “The town should foot the bill on this; it’s a safety issue that’s on town land…
“Who’s responsible for maintenance? he asked. “Why should it be us and not the town?”
“It’s a RHS team, though,” countered Vice-Chairwoman Irene Burgess.
Mr. Howley explained that he went to the town first and it rejected taking on the proposal.
“I failed to gain traction with my request,” he added.
The project includes clearing brush, minor excavation and laying down a running path.
It also includes four-foot wide by 10-foot long bridge that Mr. Howley plans to install himself.
He estimated that construction would take him two weeks as long as he didn’t hit any ledge.
“I could start Thursday,” he told the board. “Two days to excavate if the weather cooperates and then next week do the bridge work and lay the path; it’s similar to the town’s paving process.
“We should be done next week,” he added. “If we find ledge, it will mess up the schedule and could cost more.”
Looking past the dollar figure, Superintendent Deborah Low wanted to know how the team would practice during the construction.
When coach John Goetz suggested it would be “business as usual” with students running with the flow of traffic, Ms. Low didn’t hesitate to nix that plan.
“We can’t have kids on it,” she said. “I’m worried now that it’s been labeled as a safety issue; we’re going to have to adjust the practice schedule.
“The safety of the kids during construction is paramount,” she added.
Coach Goetz suggested an alternative route that takes the team through back roads into New York via Route 116.
“It’s a loop we’ve been doing for years,” he explained.
Ms. Low and Mr. Charles agreed to talk more strategy outside of the meeting.