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Hancock school board could look at updates to Oak Glen fields

NEW MANCHESTER — While one athletic field project continues, the Hancock County Board of Education may be looking into the possibility of starting up a new one.

Near the end of Monday’s school board meeting, held in the media center at Oak Glen High School, board member Larry Shaw raised the idea of an improvement project to the baseball and softball fields at Oak Glen.

In particular, Shaw noted previous discussions of installing turf and new lights on the fields, which are part of the Oak Glen Field of Dreams complex.

Shaw, noting such a discussion was not a part of Monday’s meeting, offered a motion to have it placed on the board’s next meeting, scheduled for May 8. Board President Chris Gillette stated motions could not be made during “Good of the Order,” but Shaw countered they can.

According to Robert’s Rules of Order during a Good of the Order portion of a meeting, “members who obtain the floor commonly are permitted to offer informal observations regarding the work of the organization, the public reputation of the society or its membership, or the like. Certain types of announcements may tend to fall here.” It further states, typically, no business or motions take place during this portion of the meeting, but that is dependent on the practices of the body.

Board Vice President Ed Fields seconded Shaw’s motion, commenting he feels the board should, at least, begin talking about the potential project, even if a decision on whether to move forward isn’t made in the near future.

“I think we need to have the information,” Fields said. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”

Following the vote, Gillette declared the results to be 2-1-2, with Shaw and Fields voting in favor of having a discussion placed on the May 8 board agenda, Gillette voting against, and board members Jim Horstman and Gerard Spencer abstaining.

The possibility of upgrade projects for the baseball and softball fields at Oak Glen High come as the board is in the midst of field projects at Weir High School. Those projects include the construction of a new softball field on the site of the former northern parking lot at the high school, with a new baseball field to be built on top of the former softball field. Both fields, once complete, will have turf and updated lighting.

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