Aransas Pass ISD board conditionally approves resurfacing of high‑school track amid uncertainty over underlying base

The Aransas Pass ISD Board of Trustees on May 11 approved a proposal to resurface the high‑school track, authorizing work on the running surface while requiring an on‑site assessment of the asphalt and subgrade before additional funds are committed.

The board voted to accept the contractor’s base bid for the top surfacing, $260,600, and directed administration to complete a facilities assessment to determine whether the underlying asphalt or subbase needs repair or full replacement. Superintendent Mr. Bennett explained the board would seek more information about any repairs and funding options before authorizing additional work.

Chris Fry Tag, a vendor representative who spoke with trustees, said the spray‑applied structural surfacing wears in roughly six to eight years and described the standard repair sequence: pull the old surfacing, patch or repair any asphalt or subgrade problems, lay two layers of structural spray, then stripe and paint the lanes. “You can’t know what’s under there until you take the top off,” Fry Tag told the board, cautioning that a full replacement of an eight‑lane track can cost roughly $1.5 million.

Coach Davis, the district athletic director, told trustees the facility currently has uneven lifting along the start and finish areas and described situations where spikes could contact the concrete beneath the surface. He said those conditions make the stadium unsafe to host interscholastic meets until repairs are completed.

Board discussion focused on weighing shorter‑term resurfacing to restore safety and hosting capability against the risk of discovering deeper structural problems after the top layer is removed. Trustees asked administration to return with contingency planning and funding options — including using the summer budget workshop and a facilities committee meeting to place the work in the district’s capital‑planning priorities.

If the subbase is adequate, Fry Tag said the resurfacing process takes roughly four weeks; painting and line‑striping may follow depending on contractor availability. The board’s approval is conditioned on the recommended assessment; trustees emphasized the district will not move forward with additional work without review of underlying conditions and transparent cost estimates.

The board’s next step is an on‑site assessment to document any asphalt or subgrade repairs and a follow‑up discussion during the district’s budget planning cycle.