Board hears construction updates and opts not to pursue purchase of 10.5‑acre parcel near Ramey site

District construction advisers and facilities staff gave a detailed update on bond projects and a proposed land acquisition at the Fayetteville Board of Education meeting on May 28.

Kelly Freeman of Connect Advisors reviewed progress across projects: Woodland Junior High is about 50% complete, the Fayetteville High School parking garage is nearing concrete topping next month, interior work at John L. Colbert junior high is underway, Ramey Junior High received conditional city approvals to proceed with early site work, and the district’s new track and field stadium is in phase 1 excavation and drainage work.

Steve Flickinger, director of physical plant and school services, summarized summer maintenance projects including LED lighting replacements at indoor fields, interior painting and carpet replacement involving roughly 59,000 square feet across schools, and gym floor and courtyard drainage repairs.

Staff also presented a potential purchase of a roughly 10.5‑acre parcel northeast of the Ramey site and explored whether moving the athletic field to that parcel would be feasible. The land was offered at about $2,781,000 for the two lots in question, with an additional adjacent parcel and home that could raise combined cost to roughly $3.6 million. Consulting cost estimates showed a wide range for relocating the field: direct relocation costs were estimated between about $2.7 million and $3.8 million, with indirect additions (restrooms, limited parking/trails/fencing) adding between about $0.7 million and $3.2 million on top of that.

Staff cautioned that moving the field would complicate stormwater management and construction logistics and might not yield net savings. After extensive discussion of costs, site constraints, stormwater implications and long‑term needs — and with no board member offering a motion to approve purchase — the board allowed the issue to die for lack of a motion and instructed staff to explore lower‑impact options such as easements for trail/connectivity if feasible.

Board members said the parcel could be useful in the very long term but agreed there was no immediate need and that purchasing land at the proposed price, combined with uncertain construction changes, was not persuasive. Staff will notify the family selling the land and may pursue easement options for pedestrian connectivity if the board directs.