Whispering excitement erupted during the Warren County R-III School Board meeting Sept. 13, following the passing of a motion to move forward with the construction of a new softball field.It came after long discussion in a packed room that included members of the Warrenton High School softball team, who had arrived from their game moments before the meeting.Board members debated on the options for how to use the remaining funds from a $10 million bond project. During the August open session, talk had centered around the addition of a new ticket booth entrance to the high school athletic complex.However, there were concerns about costs and extensiveness of the design. The board wanted to explore the option of scaling back the blueprints before proceeding with a decision.During the September meeting, the possibility of putting a cap on the athletic entrance while prioritizing the softball field was proposed.A statement was delivered by board member Rodger Tucker, who expressed the need for the softball team — the only program in school history to win a state championship — to have its own field.Currently, the softball team utilizes the baseball field.“With our current situation of sharing a field, fall and spring softball is not an option for us,” said Tucker. “The baseball mound doesn’t allow for offseason softball activities to take place.”Superintendent Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith was open to the possibility of moving forward with both projects.“I think we can do both projects and probably be fine,” said Klinginsmith during the session. “We need to discuss how we want to finish out using our bond money.”Board member Chad Smith pointed out what has been accomplished, given that excess funds from the original bond project mean more opportunity for growth.“It’s good that we’ve gotten to this point,” he said. “I think both of these projects have good value. I favor a softball field because of the impact it would have for a program that doesn’t have a place of its own.”Smith made a motion that the district pursue the construction of the softball field by utilizing the remainder of the bond money and excess coming from Fund 4, while also moving forward with the construction of the athletic entrance with funds coming from Fund 4 with a maximum expenditure of $100,000 for that project.The board voted in favor of the motion 5-2, with Board President John Clinger and member Franci Schwartz voting against.“I’m just really uncomfortable throwing two projects in there at once,” Schwartz said.Clinger expressed that he would like more time to process and discuss the decision.“I think we all agree that it’s needed, but there’s just a lot of unanswered questions,” he added.The board also discussed the need for expansion of the Early Childhood Education Center.Warriors SoftballRecord photo