The Newton School Board took the next steps towards using local option sales tax revenue to pay for improvements at H.A. Lynn Stadium and the new baseball field at their meeting Monday night. 

In response to complaints about the lack of handrails on the bleacher steps at H.A. Lynn Stadium, the school board is considering the installation of new bleachers with handrails on the visitors side of the field. The estimated cost for the project is $700,000. Local option sales tax money, or SAVE dollars, may also be used to build a concession stand and bathrooms at the new baseball field. The projected cost for the baseball field project is $800,000. Public hearings were held for both projects during the regular school board meeting, and board members approved two Professional Services Agreements with FRK Architects and Engineers of West Des Moines to draw up plans for the improvements.

Tom Hollander was the person who brought up the handrail issue to the Newton School Board months ago, and appreciated the board’s action on Monday.

“I would like to thank the board for moving this project forward. I came to the school board meeting to talk about this because I thought it was a significant deficiency in our athletic complex for football, soccer, track, and whatever else that facility was used for.”

SAVE stands for Secure and Advanced Vision for Education, and is a statewide sales tax that local school district voters approve to provide funding for school infrastructure and property tax relief.