Preserving parity is key in D204

Concerns over who's keeping score and how they're doing it nearly derailed construction of a $70,000 soccer press box at Neuqua Valley High School.

Indian Prairie School District 204's school board was asked to approve bids for the facility's construction during its June 23 meeting, and it delayed that decision until its Monday meeting. It then approved the measure unanimously only after board President Mark Metzger seconded the motion by board member John Stephens; Metzger uncharacteristically offered a second from the chair because no other board members were willing to do so.

Board member Jeannette Clark said the board vowed years ago that it would not fund the development of Neuqua's soccer facility, and that building the press box could be construed as going back on its word. Metzger had a different take.

"I think what we said, and with stunning clarity, was that we will not fund the development of a soccer facility," he said. "The soccer facility now exists. What we're now being asked to do, in my opinion, is add onto that soccer facility - to add a press box."

And by building that press box, the district also will be adding much-needed outdoor storage for physical education instruction at Neuqua, Metzger said. That storage will be situated under the press box.

Of course, concerns over parity between the district's two high schools also arose during the discussion. Todd DePaul, District 204's director of building operations, attempted to sort those out, saying the district is only footing about $20,000 of the overall bill for the press box - booster clubs are covering the rest.

And the district's money, DePaul said, is Neuqua's discretionary funding from its athletic budget. Waubonsie Valley High School is given the same amount money, and as soon as baseball season is over, it will use the funding to add dugouts and more bleachers to its junior varsity baseball field, he said. It is the only field in the district that does not have those amenities.

Metzger noted that, like those dugouts and bleachers at Waubonsie, Neuqua's press box also can be considered a parity issue.

Waubonsie's soccer press box is the press box on the visiting side of the school's football field, which used to be the home stands until the district expanded the stadium. Metzger noted that the soccer field is right behind those stands and that press box.

So the district paid to put windows in each side so the structure could serve two functions.

"You face one way, you're dealing with football. You face the other way, you're dealing with soccer," he said.

Prior to the board's vote to approve the press box expenditure, board member Curt Bradshaw suggested that, before officially adding Metea Valley High School to the mix, the district do its best to identify the remaining issues of equality between Neuqua and Waubonsie.