Board approves contract drafting for Dixon High School track resurfacing and turf field; administration says county facility sales tax will fund work
March 19, 2026 | Dixon USD 170, School Boards, Illinois
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The Dixon USD 170 board voted March 18 to proceed with contracting and design work for renovations to Dixon High School’s track and for conversion of the playing field to artificial turf.
Administrators asked the board to authorize a contract proposal from Burns & Jones to move the project into detailed planning and design. The board approved the request to “draw this up” and return with final documents and a contract; administration emphasized the work would be paid from countywide facility sales tax funds set aside for brick‑and‑mortar projects, not from the district’s operating fund for salaries and benefits.
Administration said the overall stadium project will include a turf field and additional amenities such as ticket booths, press boxes and concessions and that a major fundraising component would cover some items. The district noted the work will be phased and that a more detailed cost breakdown from the vendor would follow in a subsequent presentation. The administration also addressed concerns raised by community members about turf safety and maintenance, saying turf uses different maintenance practices and that the district considered the tradeoffs and broader uses (PE, band, community events) in recommending turf.
Board members framed the project as benefiting many student groups and community users, not just the football program, and said planning documents will come back to the board for final approvals and any required bidding steps. The motion approved at the meeting authorizes administrators to negotiate and prepare a contract and return to the board for formal acceptance of final costs and schedules.
What happens next: Administration will return with a full proposal from the vendor with final scope, costs and timeline; board discussion indicated an expectation that fundraising details and phased implementation would be included in the next presentation.
Administrators asked the board to authorize a contract proposal from Burns & Jones to move the project into detailed planning and design. The board approved the request to “draw this up” and return with final documents and a contract; administration emphasized the work would be paid from countywide facility sales tax funds set aside for brick‑and‑mortar projects, not from the district’s operating fund for salaries and benefits.
Administration said the overall stadium project will include a turf field and additional amenities such as ticket booths, press boxes and concessions and that a major fundraising component would cover some items. The district noted the work will be phased and that a more detailed cost breakdown from the vendor would follow in a subsequent presentation. The administration also addressed concerns raised by community members about turf safety and maintenance, saying turf uses different maintenance practices and that the district considered the tradeoffs and broader uses (PE, band, community events) in recommending turf.
Board members framed the project as benefiting many student groups and community users, not just the football program, and said planning documents will come back to the board for final approvals and any required bidding steps. The motion approved at the meeting authorizes administrators to negotiate and prepare a contract and return to the board for formal acceptance of final costs and schedules.
What happens next: Administration will return with a full proposal from the vendor with final scope, costs and timeline; board discussion indicated an expectation that fundraising details and phased implementation would be included in the next presentation.
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