Hennessey hopes to use $919,000 of its COVID relief capital expenditure money to replace its unsafe track as an outdoor physical education classroom for elementary school students.

Hennessey Public School Superintendent Jason Sternberger got the green light to make an application and to use part of the school’s $2.9 million American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds for that project.

State Department of Education application and approval is necessary because it’s a construction project, instead of costs due to the pandemic for computers, off-site learning, etc.

Sternberger said it will take two weeks to know if the district is approved.

“Then we can bring in the track vendors, or if we’re not approved we can look into using the general fund, building or lease-purchasing,” he said.

The track would enable grade school students to go outside, instead of in a gym, so they can get fresh air and run on a safe track, he said.

The track would also be available to families to exercise outdoors together.

The project will use 28.22 percent of the relief funds and will enable elementary students to use the track for the Little Olympics.

“Students can learn to run in a straight line, or hopping, skipping between the lines, to passing a baton to creating a fitness plan that utilizes the track,” the application lists.

The physical activity is good for the students’ mental health, as well, and help with in-person learning, it also read. It continued to say the track may be used during the summer, spring breaks, and more.

Track condition

“The existing track has endured tremendous damage due to natural causes, primarily the ground settling/shifting, and weather exposure…Quotes to repair it properly call for removal of the entire track and asphalt, add a sub-base to prevent settling in the future, then replace with new asphalt and surface.

“There are numerous cracks that run the entire width of the track, and in some cases are up to five inches wide…It is unsafe for us to allow children of any age to use any part of this facility. Our current bonding capacity is maxed out toward another project and we do not have adequate local funds available for this project.”

How long has school been without track? The school has been

The school has been without use of a track for more than 10 years, but the exact year wasn’t known during the meeting.

Board members Patrick Griffin and David Tillman discussed how long the school has been without a usable track.

Tillman’s daughter, Abby, was on the team that won state in 2011, he said.

“And she did it without a track here,” said Griffin.

Those track teams practiced in Enid and the girls won state in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The boys team also won state in 2013.

All members of the board were present Monday night: President Dr. James Matthew Matousek, Vice President Luke Lough, Cristopher Choate, Griffin and Tillman.

(Ed. note: See weekend issue for CareerTech discussion and personnel matters.)