BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick School Department continues to struggle with what to do with the high school track. With the track now a safety hazard and replacement costs running between $800,000 and $850,000, funding a proper replacement has become an issue.

At their last meeting, the facilities committee looked at the amount needed to build a new track facility and questioned whether it was time to look into funding models that would take some of the burden off the school district — potentially in part through private donors as they did with the original track.

The school district is already struggling with keeping aging school buildings up and running, and is also faced with the prospect of constructing a new elementary school in the near future.

School board member Corinne Perreault said the $850,00 price tag was “too much to stomach.”

Board member Sarah Singer said she felt that either funding had to be put in place or the school would have to walk away from the track entirely. She also noted the public needs to be aware that all aspects, from the new school to repairs at Coffin Elementary and the junior high, are a priority.

Singer suggested that perhaps Town Councilor Dave Watson, who worked to build the first track, could reprise his role.

“It might be worth saying to the town of Brunswick — if you want the high school to have a functioning track, we may need you to write a check,” Singer said.

Watson said a rebuild would bring the track up to standards, not just for a higher level of competition, but to correct mistakes that were made from the very beginning.

As for funding, Watson sees it as a multi-level approach with the town, school department and recreation department working together along with private contributions.

Designs from Huntress Associates in Andover, Massachusetts, will upgrade the track to a level that Watson believes will become a boon to the town — attracting events that will, in turn, attract athletes as well as their money into Brunswick.

“If we build it right, we can start the philosophy of making the investment in the facility but building it to a level so that level can show a return to the community,” Watson said.

Watson said upgrades could make Brunswick a destination for athletes and their families, from regional and state meets to New England high school championship or the U.S.A. Region One Junior Olympic Championships. Events like the Junior Olympics would bring in athletes for as many as four days.

“They’d have to find rooms to rent, food, gasoline — there’s a lot of things that would bring revenue to the community,” Watson said.

The new designs would also eliminate several problems, including grass growing up through the track, an uphill approach to the long jump and overlapping spaces for discus throwers and shot putters.

Watson said the track facility needs to be rendered safe, as it is commonly used by the junior high, high school and recreation department.

He is confident there are donors out there as well as untapped resources to make the new track happen — and equally confident of the overall benefit to the town.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com

School struggles

• THE BRUNSWICK school district is already struggling with keeping aging school buildings up and running, and is also faced with the prospect of constructing a new elementary school in the near future.