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Superintendent Announces Million Dollar Grant, School Board discusses affordable housing

Superintendent Theresa Axford announced to the Monroe County School Board at the October 22nd board meeting that the district had received a $1 million dollar grant from the Knight Foundation which will be used to help renovate historic Rex Weech Field.  The field which has housed Key West Baseball for decades is badly in need of a new entrance, concession, and training facility.  Baseball officials would also like an area to display the artifacts of Key West Baseball History such as photographs, pictures, plaques, and trophies of past successes.  The Knight Foundation supports Key West children and their families.  They deemed the project a fantastic support for student athletes as well as all students and a great opportunity to support families  having fun and enjoying a traditional sport in Key West.   Superintendent Axford is also seeking other grants for the renovation and plans to submit a proposal to the Tourist Development Council as well.

The School Board also heard a report Tuesday about the progress of the Trumbo Point workforce housing project. In a presentation to the board, the company whose bid the workforce housing committee chose to recommend, Integra Solutions LLC, talked about how they propose to set the lowest rents possible for the units. The company has been working extensively with workforce housing committee members on this issue. After a detailed discussion about the project, how affordable rents are set, and possible issues with the bidding process, board attorney Dirk Smits said the board can place this as an action item on the next board meeting agenda and decide whether to accept Integra’s proposal or not. He also said if they don’t want to take action, the interim agreement regarding this bidding process runs out in December after which they can start all over again if they want to. Integra and committee members agreed to continue working together in an effort to make their proposal more attractive to the board.

In reference to field drainage at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium, Operations and Planning Director Pat Lefere said his department is working on the issue and have installed a pump as well as doing aeration and top dressing of the field. He said they have seen some improvement and will continue these efforts. He said he thinks there will be considerable improvement by next spring. Deputy Superintendent Amber Acevedo talked about fan and athlete conduct at sporting events. She said there have been some issues with student conduct at games and with the conduct of athletes after sporting events. She said school administrators are addressing these issues using messaging to parents and students. She said there was increased police presence at the last big event and student conduct at the game improved noticeably. She said principals will be sending parents a notice that students under high school age must be accompanied by an adult. Regarding athlete conduct after games, she said athletes are required to ride the bus home or ride home with parents. Athletes are not allowed to ride home with other students under any circumstances. She said the schools will be tightening this requirement and making sure it is being complied with.

In his report, board member Andy Griffiths pointed out that his replacement, Yvette Mira-Talbott would be sworn in at the next board meeting November 19th at Key West City Hall and that he would be in attendance, for the last time, to see her sworn in.