Board OKs another $40K for softball field

Sharpsville school directors have agreed to spend up to another $40,000 – on top of the $25,000 already budgeted and $6,500 donated by the school boosters – to build a softball field.

The additional money will pay for the excavation and installation of a new base on the infield, and high school Principal Kirk Scurpa said. His rough estimate is that the excavation and base could cost $25,000, though Scurpa said the calculations are high.

The board approved spending “not to exceed $40,000” and to solicit bids for the installation of an infield by a vote of 7-1. Janice Raykie cast the only dissenting vote and reminded fellow board members that in December they wanted to be cautious to watch spending, and that the district didn’t have to build the Taj Mahal. “I think this is a lot of money,” Raykie said.

But Scurpa said he wanted the board to do it right, and said “it’s the foundation of a Taj Mahal.”