SOUTH PORTLAND (WGME) – Leaders with the South Portland School Department are hoping to upgrade the high school’s stadium.
On Monday night, the school board agreed to a multiple-choice question to propose as a referendum vote during a public meeting.
The referendum would include two yes-or-no questions on whether to spend millions of dollars to renovate South Portland High School’s track and field. One question would address building a natural grass field, and another for synthetic turf. Residents could vote in support of their preferred playing surface or vote no to shut it down.
According to Athletic Director Todd Livingston, the field was built in the 1960s. The field is in visible disrepair, with the track surface peeling off the asphalt.
Livingston says the track is not safe to hold meets. The South Portland High School boys and girls track teams cannot host a meet this season due to the disrepair of the track.
The discussion comes a few weeks after the superintendent announced more than 20 staff members could be laid off due to a budget deficit. Ben Foster, a longtime South Portland resident, has concerns about these plans.
“I’m very concerned about where our priorities are in South Portland,” Foster said. “In the current budget situation, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”
Other parents like Susan Thompkins say addressing the track is a long overdue issue.
“Getting our athletic track to code has been kicked down the road time and time again because it’s not a priority,” Thompkins said.
According to Livingston, the board will recommend the referendum to the South Portland City Council in the coming months. From there, they hope to put it on the ballot in November.