New Berlin School District unveils preliminary plan to upgrade athletic facilities, estimates $9M–$15M program

Dave Codium, director of communications and public relations for the New Berlin School District, led a task‑force kickoff meeting to present preliminary plans for upgrading high‑school athletic facilities and to solicit community feedback.

Codium said the task force was charged by a recent Board of Education resolution to develop non‑referendum funding options — including donations, naming rights and use of district capital funds — and to present a recommended plan to the school board by Nov. 1. “This task force is charged with looking at non‑referendum ideas,” he said.

The presentation outlined a three‑phase approach. Phase one focuses on two multi‑use stadiums: turfing playing surfaces where appropriate, rebuilding or enlarging tracks and improving throws and jumps areas. Phase two would address baseball and softball upgrades (including options for infield‑only synthetic turf to reduce costs and optional field lighting). Phase three would reconfigure green space at Eisenhower High School to maximize community use.

Codium said the district’s sites struggle with natural turf and weather‑related playability problems that force teams to relocate practices and games, and that current grandstand capacity and accessibility are inadequate. He noted Title IX requirements to provide comparable facility improvements across boys’ and girls’ programs when upgrades are made.

Preliminary cost figures presented by district staff included roughly $2.9 million for the West stadium and track, and about $7 million for the Eisenhower stadium and track when a grandstand project is included. The combined range for phase‑one stadium work was given as approximately $6.8 million to $9.9 million; the full three‑phase package was presented with a wide range of about $9.3 million to $15.3 million depending on options. “Just doing the West stadium and track is approximately $2.9 million,” Codium said.

The district has a long‑range capital account referred to as Fund 41 that contains funds set aside for track work (Codium said roughly $1 million per track has been included in long‑range planning), but officials said additional funds would be required to complete the full program. Codium explained the task force will focus on combinations of Fund 41 dollars, donations and fundraising that do not require a referendum.

Codium also announced a separate, donor‑funded project: a demolished concession stand will be replaced with plumbed restrooms, a concession area and team rooms courtesy of a family donation plus some Fund 41 support; the district expects that facility to be operational by football season in the fall.

Staff asked attendees to provide feedback via a paper form or by scanning a QR code to a Google form; the district will publish materials and updates on a task‑force website and said the next meeting is scheduled for June 19. “We’re going to be presenting to the school board no later than November 1st,” Codium said.

The meeting was an informational kickoff only; no votes or formal decisions were taken. Staff encouraged attendees to speak one‑on‑one with athletic directors or district staff after the presentation and to continue submitting questions and feedback through the task‑force email and website.

What’s next: the district will collect feedback, publish FAQs and additional funding options ahead of the June 19 meeting and the November board presentation.