<p>Hermiston School District has condemned the bleachers at Hermiston High School's Kennison Field. Yellow tape and "Keep Off" signs went up Tuesday after the school board's decision. The board is also conisdering replacing the track because even patched cracks are resplitting.</p>

The Kennison Field Renovation Project will go out for bids in two-three weeks, according to Hermiston School District Deputy Superintendent Wade Smith.

Its reality now. We are three weeks away from going out to bid, Smith said. Well be going out to bid either right before Christmas or right after. Im guessing it will be about mid-February before we see dirt being pushed around the field.

Design is complete on the $4 million renovation of the athletic complex at Hermiston High School, including construction of a track, artificial turf football/soccer field and ADA accessible bleachers. The renovation project began last fall after the existing bleachers and track surface were deemed unsafe.

Among the changes are an improved, synthetic track surface which yields a longer life with less annual maintenance, a new press box, concession stand and improved parking, lighting and pedestrian walkways.

The bleachers will have 2,032 seats made up of primarily bench seating. The center section will include 250 numbered, fold-down seats, however, as well as some stadium bleachers.

The district is also working to make the site compliant with rules for state playoff games. Smith said Eastern Oregon families have traveled 322,000 excess miles in the past three years just in football and soccer to attend playoff games on the western side of Oregon because no authorized facilities exist in Eastern Oregon.

Smith said the district has already been contacted by colleges across the state to conduct spring training camps at the facility, as well as Eastern Oregon schools interested in playing games and meets at the site.

The bulk of the project is being funded through district funds, including rebates on the 2008 construction bond, in-kind support and a large donation from the Hermiston Booster Club. The Kennison Field Fundraising Committee was tasked with raising the $700,000 funding gap between available money and the project cost.

As of Tuesday, the district had received funding or pledges totaling $642,000, in addition to promises of in-kind work and supplies from local businesses.

The challenge is, of course, that many of our pledges are multi-year pledges, Smith said. Were hoping we can actually exceed that $700,000 so we have money we can see when we need to cut checks.

Any additional funding will be used for phased improvements not included in the original design.

I have not heard anything but excitement about this project, Board Chairwoman Karen Sherman said Monday. Everyone is excited, and its going to be a great thing for Hermiston.

Smith said the project is focused on three ideas: creating a safe athletic area, maximizing resources and taking time to do it right the first time.

The current Kennison Field is some 40, 50 years old, Smith said. This will probably be the last time we revise this in our lifetimes. We want to make sure we do it right the first time.

Full design development plans are available on the district website, including the view lines, bleacher cut sheets and front and rear views of the press box elevation.

For more information on the project, visit www.hermiston.k12.or.us/krp.

In other business:

Staff from Sunset Elementary presented to the board about classroom and learning strategies.

The board discussed revising board goals.

The board met in a closed-door session for the annual superintendent evaluation. This year, board members opted to evaluate Deputy Superintendent Wade Smith because of his interim service while Fred Maiocco was on military leave from the district.