School Board approves additional work at QHS softball and baseball fields

QUINCY- While there won’t be artificial turf just yet on the fields of the Quincy High School baseball and softball complex, there will be new dirt.

About 75 tons of it.

The high school baseball and softball infields received the new dirt this week as part of a life safety funding amendment. QHS Athletic Director Kristina Klingele said the fields had developed holes due to use over the years and they had become an injury hazard.

“For softball and baseball, they each get about 3 loads,” Klingele said. “That is a huge help. We are heading in the right direction.” 

The work also includes regrading and seeding as well as replacing the lights.

And Klingele added that while “the right direction” meant working to improve the dirt and grass for now is progress, a 10-year plan does include eventually putting in artificial turf, which could also be covered by future life safety dollars.

Converting the Lincoln Douglas HVAC piping from aluminum to copper was also approved under the health/life safety amendments. 

Dennis Williams of Quincy Teen Reach, spoke in the public comment portion to recognize Jenni Moran, a QHS special education teacher who died Saturday after a long battle with cancer. Moran was 45 and her visitation will be held Friday in the QHS Commons. 

“For you guys to have a teacher that is so effective outside of school that when this occurs, I’m having kids crying because they want to see their Jenni,” Williams said. “You know, that’s huge. That’s something to be proud of. We have special needs kids and she was the one that would take them and treat them like they were just like them.” 

Superintendent Todd Pettit also announced this year’s Blue Devil mascot. Titus Petty will be hoisting the flaming trident at QHS basketball home games this season.

The next school board meeting is Nov. 20 at 6 p.m.