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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Governor should not try to tilt LNG process ... From the Council: Have a safe, fun Halloween ... Guest Opinion: The other side of the fire station story ... Our View: Governor should not try to tilt LNG process ... From the Council: Have a safe, fun Halloween ... Guest Opinion: The other side of the fire station story ... ASHLAND HIGH SCHOOL Ashland field project inches forward School board votes to fund building specs, drop fundraising deadline Comment By Joe Zavala for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Joe Zavala for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 23, 2015 at 4:32 PM By Joe Zavala for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 23, 2015 at 4:32 PM » Social News A campaign to replace the grass at Walter A. Phillips Field with artificial turf will require a calculated, $90,000 risk by the Ashland School District. The hope is that the district will recoup every penny of that through fundraising, but until then the cost of producing the construction documents that contractors will eventually bid on will come out of the district’s construction funds budget, according to Ashland schools Superintendent Jay Hummel. The decision to cover the initial costs in order to keep the project on schedule and avoid a “construction penalty” was sealed in a unanimous 5-0 vote during an Oct. 12 school board meeting. The move wrapped up a 90-minute discussion that included one failed motion and another revised version that removed a fundraising deadline that was initially set for Oct. 15. Now, the project ignited by Ashland High School alum and Kansas City Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie’s $650,000 donation two years ago appears to be headed toward the bottom of the ninth, and Lisa James of James Consulting, who’s heading up the fundraising effort, expressed confidence that the district will reach its $1,225,000 fundraising goal in time to break ground next summer. Ashland Schools Foundation Executive Director Susan Bacon, who is helping James raise money, said Wednesday that donations to the project are now just shy of $950,000, although not all of that has been collected yet. The goal is for the district to put the project out to bid in late January or early February, choose a contractor and break ground in early summer in order to have the field ready for the 2016-17 school year. The district’s initial investment will cover the cost of drawing building specifications for a field that’s 65 yards wide, as well as specs for a thinner field, should ASD ultimately decide to go that route. Choosing a thinner, slightly cheaper design could jeopardize the entire project, however, because some of the donations are contingent upon the field’s width. Bacon said she and James are working hard to lock up both small, private bids and larger donations from corporations and foundations. A “Buy a Brick” campaign gives donors who contribute $250 or more a 4-by-8-inch brick (8-by-8 for donors of $750 or more), which will be placed somewhere “prominent” in the completed structure. Each brick will include a bronze plaque and a space for writing. Donors are divided into clubs based on the size of their donations, and each club has perks associated with it. Those who donate between $1,000 and $4,999 qualify for the Turf Club, and are awarded free advertising in the game programs for the 2016-17 school year. Members of the Championship Club, for those who donate $100,000 or more, receive logo space on the wall in front of the visitors bleachers for five years, eight season tickets for football and soccer and four reserved parking spots for 10 years. A list of the district’s donation programs can be found at ashlandschooolsfoundation.org . Joe Zavala is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 541-821-0829 or [email protected]. By Joe Zavala for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Joe Zavala for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 23, 2015 at 4:32 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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