New modernized track and field planned for Paris District High School

By Casandra Turnbull

A multi million-dollar upgrade to the track and field at Paris District High School is in the works. Rafal Wyszynski, Superintendent of Business & Treasurer for the Grand Erie District School Board, was before the Administration & Operations Committee on Tuesday, Nov 21 to present the $3 million plan to revitalize the aging track and field behind the Grand River Street North school. While the outdoor field has certainly served its purpose and is the grounds for countless memories over the decades, a new one is required to keep up with the growing student population and to keep up with today’s functionality and athletic demands. Wyszynski presented a list of inadequacies and restrictions during his presentation on Tuesday. The current format of the track has only four lanes Lately, PDHS has been receiving an increase in requests from elementary schools to use the PDHS track The current restriction of having only four lanes, none of which are lined, also limits the range of events that can take place, often leading to slowerpaced activities.

The current dirt/stone track is not an ideal surface for a secondary school track The track requires constant maintenance, which becomes especially challenging after rainfall when footprints tend to solidify into the surface rendering the track unusable and unsafe. With the growing community, an expanding number of community members are utilizing the track for walking. In addition to the track, the current state of jumping pits, runways, and throwing space (shot put, discus) are in poor shape, and need to be addressed

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A $3 million upgrade is proposed for the Track and Field behind Paris District High School. The rendering shows a new and improved 6-lane track around the field that will be lined with artificial turf. The Grand Erie School Board presented the plans during Tuesday’s Administration and Operations meeting

The track is important to the staff and nearly 850 students at PDHS

It is used for physical education classes, fitness classes, Relay for Life fundraisers, extra-curricular activities, and community use. The current state and format of the track does not reflect the true potential of the academic and recreational use, according to the school’s board presentation. It went on to say the acquisition of a new track would represent an opportunity to enhance the prominence of PDHS, positioning the school grounds to also be a community hub.

Grand Erie District School Board is covering $1 million of the projected $3 million costs but the school must raise $2 million by June 30, 2024 Construction is targeted to start July 1, 2024.

Wyszynski’s ask at Tuesday’s Administration meeting was for the County’s financial support in the amount of $500,000. If the proposed $3 million plan moves forward, the new track would include 6 synthetic lanes to conform to International Amateur Athletic Federation and Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association dimensions, the grass field would be converted into artificial turf, lining would be in place for CFL football, full sized soccer, field hockey and cross field soccer, there would be a new high jump apron, long and triple jump facility, a new scoreboard, school logos in the end zones and centre field and LED lighting for the field and spectator seating for up to 200 people

Wyszynski said the plan would transfer the current facility into a modernized track Councillor John Bell questioned why the School Board simply didn’t raise tariffs within the education levy of property taxes to fund the project.

Wyszynski explained that school boards are funded by the ministry based on a certain formula, primarily based on enrollment. If the school board raises the education taxes, the ministry’s allotted funding would decrease. Wyszynski did confirm, when asked, if the county, not the school board, increased the tariff in the property taxes, then council could dedicate it as special capital funding, which would prevent the ministry from lowering its funding.

Councillor Jennifer Kyle asked if perhaps this project would be a better fit with the construction of a brand new high school in Paris, since the Ministry of Education is looking to specifically fund more “joint use agreements.”

In response to Kyle’s inquiry, Wyszynski revealed the Grand Erie School Board has no long-term accommodation in the next five years to build an additional high school in Paris. Overflow from Paris will be directed to high schools in Brantford.

“Paris High School will be an asset that we will continue to repair and modernize as time goes on,” he said. Veering slighting off topic,

Wyszynski also said that the school board does have plans to build an addition on Cobblestone Elementary School and there are discussions already underway to construction another elementary school in Paris to meet the needs of this growing community. This reveal of information prompted Councillor Steve Howes to confirm what he heard, at which point Howes commented that this information should prompt increased dialogue between the County of Brant and the School Board, sooner rather than later. Getting back to the $3 million track project, councillors Robert Chambers and Christine Garneau wondered who would maintain booking the track outside school hours Wyszynski noted in his presentation that the City of Brantford handles some facility bookings for city tracks considered to be community hubs, so councillors wondered what the level of commitment would be from the County.

Wyszynski’s response was vague, stating the details could be arranged through a formal agreement if the county decided to make a financial commitment. He also confirmed that the $3 million cost covers construction only and not regular maintenance required on the track.

Councillor Lukas Oakley put forth a motion to defer the request to the 2024 Budget deliberations, and his motion passed unanimously