School board OKs Estancia bleachers

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board has approved a $4,100 grant from Costa Mesa for tennis and softball bleachers at Estancia High.

The board unanimously approved the projects during Tuesday’s meeting. The money will help build 40 seats at the tennis courts and 160 seats at the softball field, according to district documents.

Currently, Estancia has no tennis bleachers and only limited softball seating, said Trustee Martha Fluor.

“We’re very excited about the improvements to facilities at Estancia,” she said.

The project is part of a grant program established in May among the city, booster group Costa Mesa United and the district to improve sports facilities at Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools.

The principals of each high school are allowed to apply for grant funds for athletic facilities that will be jointly used by the schools and the Costa Mesa community. The city has pledged to fund up to $100,000 worth of projects, said Paul Reed, the district’s deputy superintendent and chief business official.

The school board must approve all projects before they are funded, he said.

In August, the school board accepted a $44,800 grant from the city for softball bleachers and gym padding for Mesa, and pitching machines, soccer goals, and aquatic timing and scoring equipment for Estancia, according to district documents.

The tennis and softball bleachers were supposed to be approved with that grant but were delayed so logistical questions could be answered, Reed said. What those questions were was not immediately clear Wednesday.