BEDFORD Construction for Liberty High Schools new gym began in mid-June and is set to be completed by next summer.

Bedford County School Board members heard an update on the construction of the new gym and baseball field Friday at their last meeting before school starts Aug. 14.

School board members asked Eddie Brown, project manager of M.B. Kahn Construction, for a cost estimate on installing restrooms at the new baseball field, said Mac Duis, chief operations officer for the school district.

A concession stand at the field already is built but doesnt include restrooms, Duis said.

The board has been trying to decide if its feasible to add bathrooms and how much it would cost, Duis said.

Two parents spoke during public comments Wednesday in favor of restrooms and a concession stand at the baseball field.

Allen Porterfield, whose son plays baseball at Liberty High School, said he spoke to the school board because he wants them to do something they promised from the start [to provide] as good or better as the other two high schools in the district, which both have restrooms at their baseball fields.

Martin Leamy, the school board member representing District 7, which includes Liberty High School, said he is in favor of adding restrooms during field construction instead of waiting to add them later.

All theyre asking for is equal facilities across the high school zones, Leamy said. Its the right thing to do. Now is the time to do it. If the project is delayed, if its not done now, it will be more expensive later.

Brown is set to provide estimates on how much restrooms could cost at the next school board meeting, set for Sept. 14.

Since the gym is being built over the former baseball field, Liberty High School and Bedford Middle School baseball players will hold their home games at Liberty Lake Park for the upcoming season.

The new middle school and Liberty High School projects overall were awarded less than $35.9 million, according to Duis.

The new Liberty Middle School is slated to open August 2018. The middle school will be connected to the high school by a roadway and sidewalk, Duis said.

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Bedford County School Board updated on Liberty High gym ... - Roanoke Times