The MRPS Board of School Directors encumbered $400,000 of the district Fund Balance for the Montpelier High School Track Project at their December 13, 2023 meeting.

The Fund Balance is, in the most basic sense, the school district’s savings account for money that has been budgeted for and received from the tax base that was not spent. This can accumulate across years. The $400k encumbered for the track is not part of the monetary ask of voters as part of the FY25 school budget.

How the $400K ✅ Will be ✅ spent

1. improving the track to ensure the safety of our student athletes and community members:

   1. address current, deteriorating, wood curbing

   2. add safety netting (discus, shot put, and lacrosse)

   3. improve jumping pits (add running lanes, mats, and ground protection)

   4. create a "proper" and accurate 400M “cinder” track (this will require slight changes to the current "cinder" track)

   5. improve high jump (create larger paved level high jump run-up)

2. needed equipment so that our 100+ middle and high school student track and field programs can operate:

   1. long jump safety padding, hurdles, starting blocks and other smaller items

   2. timing and measuring equipment (to allow for accurate record keeping)

   3. pole-vaulting equipment (runway, stanchions, and matting)

WHAT WORK ✅ HAS HAPPENED ✅ THUS FAR

1. Dead trees near Dept. of Labor parking lot have been removed

2. New track equipment is starting to arrive, including all new hurdles

3. The north fence along the bike path has been replaced

4. The track surface has been “tilled” and rolled to soften and level the track

5. Temporary safety fencing at the south end of the lacrosse field has been installed (north fencing to be installed soon)

6. High jump matting has been installed

7. A proposed layout was reviewed and the results shared with the engineer for refinement