By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The USD 431 Board of Education is already in favor of naming the press box at the Hoisington High School football field after the late Dr. Blake Herres and now the school board is viewing the options for renovations.
Initially wanting to add a second level to the press box at Elton Brown Field, the school board found out another story would cost $90,000. Jeromy Bartz, with Bartz Construction, said the major factor driving up the cost for a second level is access.
"That second level of the press box is extremely high," said Bartz. "From the north side off of K-4 Highway, we would have to get equipment out here in order to reach that. On the south side, where the bleachers are, there's really no good way to access that so that involves scaffolding. So access is probably your biggest factor in driving those costs."
Herres, a 1970 Hoisington High School graduate, was on the radio broadcast for Cardinal football games for more than 20 years before he passed away in March 2023.
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USD 431 Superintendent Patrick Crowdis said roughly $13,000 was donated from Herres’ memorial and the school district is considering contributing $33,000 from capital outlay funds for a second option that makes cosmetic improvements to the existing press box and extends the guard rail on the roof.
"We've talked, administratively, that ideally we need more space, especially during playoff time," said Crowdis. "Maybe in the future we may look at something, but right now it's cost prohibitive to do so."
The upgrades would include nearly tripling the space on the roof with expanded guard railing, wrapping the press box with metal panels and replacing the windows.
The school board will look over the options and possibly take action on the matter in the April meeting. Bartz said if the project starts prior to July then the upgrades could be finished by next fall’s football season.