TYRONE — The Tyrone Area School Board approved a $5 million bond issue that will go toward the recently approved high school auditorium project and a planned soccer field renovation.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the bond, the first one issued by the district since 2008.

Board members also approved capping the soccer field work at $1.5 million.

Board member Gunter Volders said he wants the board to proceed frugally with the field project and not make any sudden decisions.

“I just want to make sure we have the opportunity to look at options before we do final bidding so we’re not talking about some challenges we run into,” Volders said. “I do like the idea of putting a cap on the project; that means we all have to work within that budget and make some choices about what’s most important.”

The field renovation is to include the installation of new turf and lighting.

Board member James Raabe expressed concern over costs as well, and he said the board should be judicious in how it proceeds in spending the money.

After the meeting, Superintendent Leslie Estep said the board’s decisions to approve the soccer field project and the bond issue were both smart.

“Improvements at that facility will allow an expanded use of that facility by many different teams, band and community space and will improve that space,” Estep said of the soccer field project.

As for the bond, “that’s going to be necessary,” Estep said. Without the bond, the renovation costs would essentially wipe out the district’s capital projects fund.

During the public comment period, just one parent spoke, voicing concerns over how the district is handling COVID-19 mitigation measures.

Valerie Morroni said COVID policies negatively impacted her son and his peers.

“One of my greatest concerns is how the mitigation measures are disproportionately affecting children with physical, developmental, mental and emotional challenges, disabilities and special needs,” Morroni said. “The superintendent’s weekly COVID update failed to include the number of days those students who cannot wear a mask are excluded and denied in-person instruction.”

Morroni said her son was denied participation in an October field trip to a pumpkin patch because he cannot wear a mask due to his documented disability and masks are required on the buses. She said she offered to provide her son with transportation to and from the pumpkin patch but was told that wouldn’t be allowed.

After the meeting, Estep declined to comment on Morroni’s allegations, instead describing the parent’s frustration as a “personal situation that we really can’t speak about in public.”

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.