Room to grow. A new baseball and softball complex. Practice field for the football team. More parking for sporting events. Some of the issues to be solved by the acquisition of land adjoining Red River Junior High and Pat Strother Memorial Stadium.

At Monday’s meeting of the board the Buildings and Grounds Committee chairman Gary Giddens described long term facility planning that is underway. Giddens said “we are looking at putting together a 20 year plan. But some items won’t wait 20 years or even 5 years to be taken care of.”

The discussions included making a priority list of all projects at school facilities. Giddens said “we are not only working on the plan but on securing the funds to do the work.”

Superintendent Alison Hughes said she is meeting with the board’s architect to discuss which projects are most important to do first. Hughes said “those could include new facilities at the high school campus and at the Springville Education Center. And also the purchase of additional land to develop.”

Jones said there are three parcels they are looking at. There is a one-acre lot and a three-acre parcel south of the junior high. The biggest parcel is 21.7 acres just east of the football field.

Board member Cleve Miller wanted the board to get an appraisal on the one-acre lot, saying they have an offer from the property owner to sell the land. Miller wanted the board to move on that one parcel.

On a motion from board member Gary Giddens it was decided to have all three of the parcels appraised so that the board would know their market value. The board will move forward on land acquisition when the appraisals are completed.