The Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) has been dealing with the condition of athletic tracks at some of its secondary schools.
At its public meeting on September 19, the Board of Trustees agreed to accept a report suggesting the removal of the tracks at four English public high schools across Windsor-Essex.
The schools affected are Vincent Massey Secondary, W.F. Herman Academy, and W.C. Kennedy Collegiate, all in Windsor, and Belle River District High School in Lakeshore.
The report, available on the public board's official website, listed the total cost of removing all four tracks and replacing them with grass at $2,292,978, which figures in the cost of renovating Windsor Stadium which is adjacent to Kennedy Collegiate.
The cost to replace three of the tracks with a regulation six-lane track came to $5,493,330. The estimate for Herman was not available. There was an additional cost of $574,000 per track to rubberize each one.
The tracks at Herman, Massey, and Belle River will be replaced with grass for a cost of $1,045,148. At Windsor Stadium, not only the track will be replaced with grass, but the structure encompassing the grandstand and washrooms will also be renovated.
Tips received by the WindsorNewsToday.ca newsroom suggested that the school community was not consulted about the move beforehand, but board spokesperson Scott Scantlebury said the decision has been made with overall safety as the top priority.
"Since it was a health and safety issue, consultation was not an element in the final decision," said Scantlebury in an e-mail. "Those four tracks are closed and they will be removed next summer."
The board hired an engineering firm last year to examine the conditions of the four tracks and suggest options for repair or replacement. Information and photos received by the firm were included in the report.
At Belle River, photos provided show the track with numerous cracks, a damaged synthetic surface, and weeds sprouting. The track at Massey showed serious damage, with cracks large enough to pose a tripping hazard. The latter facility also does not have bleachers or lights installed.
At Herman, lane markings have deteriorated or were painted over on about 80 per cent of the track, which makes deciphering lanes difficult. Loose sand is also prevalent. The scoreboard is beyond repair, and according to the report, was not designed to be used outdoors in the first place.
The track at Kennedy Collegiate, also known as Windsor Stadium, is overgrown with weeds, and even if it were resurfaced, would not meet the standards of most track-and-field competitions. The condition of the shot-put and long-jump area has declined. The washrooms have not been properly maintained and do not meet current accessibility standards.
Those who contacted the WindsorNewsToday.ca newsroom had raised multiple concerns about access to athletic facilities with the tracks closed, namely for students with special needs. There were also concerns that the board was showing favouritism by signing off on renovations for facilities at Riverside and Sandwich Secondary Schools.
The board has acknowledged that the decision to remove the tracks may be inconvenient to some school communities and create additional hardship not only for gym classes but also for athletic events.
"It [the board] must also consider the health and safety implications of the state of the current facilities, and the ethical stewardship of its limited resources," read the report. "With track facilities located at Riverside, Tecumseh Vista, Windsor Stadium, and Sandwich Secondary School, options exist for City secondary and elementary schools to host track and field events at schools that are within a reasonable distance from each other."
The board also pointed out that the Ontario Ministry of Education has not budgeted for track facilities at newer schools, and that secondary schools often rely on community donations or corporate sponsorships to maintain tracks.
Work on removing the tracks at the four schools is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024.
