By David Copeland
And Regan Estes
Staff Writers
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District board finalized plans at its Feb. 2 meeting to create a committee that will decide the changes to be made to the current athletic facilities at Mira Costa. The committee will make its final decision by May 18.
This new committee is expected to create a solution for the board to approve by using one of the two plans that has been already proposed or by forming a new plan entirely.
Plan A was proposed by boosters and coaches from the separate athletic programs at Mira Costa. Plan B was proposed by the Mira Costa administration and would result in two multipurpose fields, six tennis courts, and two baseball fields, but would also be more costly.
“There was not complete agreement on which plan to carry out. Some people on the board wanted Plan A and some wanted Plan B,” MBAF President Gary Wayland said. “The board wanted a plan that would either create a compromise between the opposing groups or a totally new plan that is agreeable to all parties.”
The improvements will directly involve all affected sports and activities, which include marching band, baseball, discus, football, lacrosse, softball, soccer, and tennis. In both plans, the south-eastern baseball diamond is slated to be removed.
“The main priority of the school board is to maximize field space and give each varsity team a regulation field to practice on,” MBUSD board member Penny Bordokas said. “We spent a lot of time trying to meet these goals.”
According to the MBUSD board, the committee will be composed of 15 members and will also include members of the Mira Costa administration. Each of the affected sports and activities will have equal representation on the committee. Applications to serve on the committee were due by Feb. 9.
“We are trying to balance the membership evenly. I encourage the public to attend the open meetings; we want the discussion to be open, and want to hear everyone’s opinions,” Bordokas said.
The only decision that the board has made so far has been to shift four tennis courts north of the current courts due to the creation of an additional parking lot by Measure BB.
“As the board, we are going to be making the final decision, but the committee will be a contributing factor,” Bordokas said. “We want equal representation and all of the members to get their voices heard so that all of the sports will be happy with the decision.”
Though funds are tight for MBUSD, the board may still ask the committee to consider options that exceed the allocated $1 million budget. Because Plan B would cost more money, the Manhattan Beach Athletic Foundation will have to raise the additional funds required to finish the construction. MBAF will be funding whichever plan the board decides to go with.
“I am looking to create the best possible plan within our financial ability for our Mira Costa teams and the Manhattan Beach community,” Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews said.
The sports facilities committee is scheduled to hold weekly meetings starting in late February or early March.
“Even though the due date for the recommendation is in May, it could take a while to make the final decision, if need be,” Bordokas said. “As of now, we just want each team to have adequate field space to practice.”
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