The Lee County School Board approved $299,711.43, so the district can go forward with early work this summer to permanently relocate sports fields at Riverdale High School.

Construction Project Management Director Scott Reichenbacher said the $299,711.43 is a request for phase one approval.

“We are in the process of doing the onsite work that we would like to accomplish over the summer. The GMP is not available for 2 to 2 1/2 months. In order to do some work over the summer, I had to get this $299,000 to relocate the practice field for the school. We got the county to take out one softball field. We are going to move that practice (field) in order to have some time frame for the grass to be established, so we can use it this summer. I have to act now, otherwise I would push the entire school program an entire year back,” he explained.

Reichenbacher told the board that he was given the football and he and his team had to make the magic happen. He said they are trying to get some work done this summer, so the permanent field does not get destroyed before the season begins.

“I can delay this school for a year and have all these drawings done 100 percent. It is going to cost you more. If I got the answer 2 months ago of what we are doing, I still have another 10 months before I get the drawing, so the whole summer and fall shifts. I am trying to keep on your 5-year timeline,” Reichenbacher said.

On April 27, the board approved the phase one pre-construction budget of $2,489,340.

Budget Director Kelly Letcher said sales tax money can and will be used for parts of the Riverdale High School renovation.