It’s official: SWR field to get new press box
The Shoreham-Wading River school board approved a contract Tuesday night to have a donated press box installed this summer at the high school track and multi-purpose field.
The 31-by-14-foot press box is being paid for with funds and material donations raised by the Wildcat Athletic Club.
The contract allows Tommy Pirraglia, the owner of Pirraglia Contracting in Rocky Point, who has donated materials and labor, to build the press box.
Another proposal, a concession stand for the track, would include piping and utilities installed, but won’t have refrigerators or stoves. Mr. Cohen said it will cost about $100,000 to outfit the concession stand with appliances. Board president William McGrath said the board is looking into ways to pay for the installation.
“I’m sure the board can compliment the community’s effort,” Mr. McGrath said at the board’s Tuesday night meeting. No action was taken on the concession stand Tuesday night.
The prefabricated pressbox should be completed in time for the fall season. The booster club also hopes to one day raise funds for new turf an field lights as well.
The board also heard a final presentation on a proposed proposition to fund technology and track improvements, setting up a vote Friday to authorize the proposition.
District officials have said the new computers and track renovations are “long past due.” More than 70 percent of district computers are obsolete, and the track is “on the verge of becoming a safety hazard.”
The combined projects would cost the district $1,642,000 in prior-year state aid -money that is currently in the district’s reserve funds and can only be used for voter-approved capital improvement projects or tax mitigation.
If the vote on Friday passes, the board would then hold another vote in July to send the proposition to a public vote, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 2.
Shoreham-Wading River’s state champion boys and girls lacrosse teams were also honored by the school board Tuesday night.
The girls team, which won its fifth state title in six years this month, all wore T-shirts that said “Play hard, play smart, play together.” The boys team, which won its second state title on the same day as the girls’ victory, also came for the meeting.
This season was the second time in school history that both boys and girls lacrosse teams won state titles.
“It’s been a great ride and I can’t be more proud,” said boys lacrosse coach Tom Rotanz.
Correction: An earlier version of the article incorrectly stated the board also approved a contract for the concession stand. The board’s resolution only approved the press box contract.
