Improvements to the Wright City High School athletic fields could be completed by April 30, 2010, if construction crews don't run into weather issues or other problems. At last Thursday's school board meeting, board members voted unanimously to approve a contract with Columbia-based Professional Contractors and Engineers, Inc. (PCE) to perform the work. Last month, the board awarded a bid for $1,337,000 to PCE for the upcoming approvements. The funding, approved by voters in April as part of the Prop KIDS (Keep Improving District Schools) $3.5-million no-tax increase bond issue, will be used to upgrade the baseball/softball and football fields and install an eight-lane, all-weather track. Also at last week's board meeting, members approved the bid specifications for the HVAC work to be done at the high school. The first phase of the project was completed when air conditioning was installed at the elementary school gymnasium before the school year began. Now that the softball season has ended, PCE can begin preliminary work on tearing out fence and performing other work on that field. They will gain additional access once the football season is over, expected to be in early November if the squad advances to the playoffs. During a preconstruction meeting held Sept. 29, representatives from the school district, PCE and Bond Wolf, the district's architectural firm, agreed to have the complex ready for work beginning Nov. 11. While the contract includes extra time for unforeseen circumstances, particularly the weather, R-II Superintendent Dr. Chris Gaines acknowledged the completion date could be pushed back if needed. "It all depends on the weather," Gaines said. Board members are eager to see work begin soon, said board president Austin Jones. "It was a long time overdue," he said. "I am really excited about it." Also related to having the football field torn up, board members voted to allow the band to take an overnight trip to the Grand National Championships, to be held Nov. 12-15 in Indianapolis, Ind. The band previously received approval to go in 2010, but wanted to push up the date since their practice time will be restricted due to the football field improvements. Bids for the HVAC work should be approved at the district's next board meeting on Nov. 19. Gaines hopes that crews can begin work during spring break March 15-19 and hopefully have the gymnasium finished in time for graduation in May. "We're hoping to get companies lead time to be ready to go when we're out of school," Gaines said. The project phase should be completed when the 2010-2011 school year begins next August. "Two or three years ago we had to cancel classes because temperatures reached 95 degrees," Jones said. "We should be able to provide a better environment to be in. That is a big plus. Students will be more alert."