Glen Rock HS Field Renovations Tentatively on Track for Mid-September

Hammered by a high amount of rainfall in recent weeks, Glen Rock Schools Business Administrator Michael Rinderknecht reported that construction work at the should still be wrapping up in mid-September.

"We're really where we want to be with the exception of the fact that when you add it up we hit two weeks worth of rain...for every day's worth of rain, it pushes the project back," Rinderknecht said. Should it continue, it could be a real problem, he later added.

While construction includes plans for improvements to the baseball field, some parents are still crying foul.

In May, the school board voted to expand the original referendum project to include alternate bids to turf the fields, a new a press box, and minor field improvements at the baseball field, additional tennis courts, as well as the original drainage improvements, field leveling and track replacement.

Though work is already underway, Glen Rock High School Baseball Association (GRHSBA) President Denise Blind last Monday night expressed dismay that the baseball program didn't have more than an outfield re-sodding and basic infield work earmarked for the current project.

"I'm just hoping that somebody has a plan for the field," she said. "Obviously putting in sod and putting in the outfield doesn't make it better. I have a whole host of things that need to be addressed."

The list included infield clay, a new pitcher's mound, cut-outs, bullpens, as well as a batting cage and surrounding fencing behind the dugout, the latter two being matters of "safety". She wondered aloud why some of those requests weren't on the intial list to be considered for the construction project.

Administrators and board members replied the hope the work can get done, but it seems unlikely it will be through this project.

"I strongly suggest that until we get this project further down the road, we avoid entertaining many additional change orders until we get through some other hurdles," Rinderknecht recommended to the board. "It's not in the budget now...there's no way to do it for this project." BOE President Rona McNabola added.

But a recent $152,000 change order that included a widening of the soccer field led to Trustee Sanjiv Ohri wondering if a change order could accommodate the GRHSBA wish list.

Rinderknecht said Blind's wishlist would qualify as add-ons, not change orders. To boot, the district has to be careful that it doesn't exceed the 20 percent exceedance on change orders.

Officials recommended that Blind write a letter detailing a list of hoped upgrades and said they might still be included, though likely down the line. Various board members and athletic director Frank Violante will review the list.