The Newton School Board will hold two public hearings tonight about using local option sales tax revenue to pay for improvements at H.A. Lynn Stadium and the new baseball field. 

In response to concerns about no 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. Newton School Superintendent Tom Messenger says the public hearings are a state requirement.

“The process that has to be followed to use SAVE or sales tax dollars for athletic facilities is you do have to have public hearings ahead of time.”

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. 

Tonight’s Newton School Board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the EJH Beard Administration Center at 1302 First Avenue West.