Additional work is being done on the new George Drolette Stadium, seen here in April, before it can be open for use. (Photo by Pat Renfro)

The renovation of Benicia High School’s George Drolette Stadium has just a little more work to be done before it can be opened for use, according to an update provided by Measure S Bond Director Roxanne Egan on the voter-approved initiative at Thursday’s school board meeting.

In 2014, Benicia residents voted to approve a ballot initiative that would provide $49.6 million in bond funding for improvements at each of the Benicia Unified School District’s seven schools. One of the largest projects to be funded was a remodel of Benicia High’s football and soccer stadium and track & field, including such changes as a new 8-lane all-weather track, upgraded lighting and new bleachers. The previous stadium had been demolished in July 2016, and a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facilities was held one month later. Construction was expected to be completed in the spring, but several delays in construction— including one of the wettest winter seasons in a long time— pushed its potential opening back to the fall. A grand opening ceremony was slated for August, but Egan said more work remains to be done.

Further work includes completing painting on the team room buildings— including blue striping and yellow trim, painting a Benicia Panthers logo on the backside of the press box, custom painting the restroom building and applying stucco to the concession building.

However, Egan noted that a lot of work has been done in the last couple of months, including applying stucco to the restroom building, adding color to the press box and adding lettering to the track. Egan said the last item was a good symbolic representation for the current stage of the project.

“I personally like it because it has some symbolism of our last sprint to the finish line,” she said.

Egan said that some of the challenges during the project have included an exceptionally wet winter, design non-conformances, a boon in construction work and the impact on available laborers for the budget. She also said a few tasks would have to be done before the facilities can be used, including training the staff on new lights, field equipment, the PA system, concession stand equipment and training and team room locker installations.

Egan expressed optimism that the first football home game would be in September, barring any unforeseen conditions. The Panthers’ first three games of the season will be played on the road. The first listed home game against Armijo High School is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 15, but Egan said a grand opening date is still being finalized.

Trustee Peter Morgan asked about previous challenges with the lighting system. Egan said the lights on the home side were not designed as tall as they should have been.

“The vendor will be returning to the site, dismantling the poles from the base, adding an additional section and remounting them,” she said. “We’ll schedule that in between games, so that won’t mean we won’t have games until that’s completed.”

Morgan also said that he had visited a high school in Walnut Creek where the athletic facilities were available for use by the community over the weekend. He asked if Benicia High’s stadium would have a policy on what the community can use it for.

“With such a different facility, they’re going to have to set new standards, and it’s going to increase the rental rates,” she said.

Egan suggested there could be a timeframe for the stadium to be left open for community use, but she noted that having a stadium consistently open for public use could make it a target for vandalism.

Board President Gary Wing suggested the stadium have a sign denoting the hours for community use.

The stadium project was not the only Measure S item discussed at the meeting. Egan said the upgrades to the fire alarm system at Benicia High have been “progressing very well” and are actually ahead of schedule, and more discussion has been held on the modernization of Benicia Middle School’s campus, with construction on the first phase of the project scheduled to begin in the fall of 2018. The rest of the improvements will be rolled out in the summer of 2019 so as to not conflict with school time. Chief Business Official Tim Rahill also said that two positions on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee were open, one for an at-large community member and one for a taxpayers’ association member. Rahill said both current members were interested in serving another two-year term, but additional applicants will still be accepted.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 7.

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