COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana School District is preparing for upgrades to its sporting facilities.

During a special board of education meeting on Tuesday the board approved a cement contract for the base of the stadium bleachers that are being installed at the end of May at the Ward Athletic Complex.

The contract was awarded to HK Concrete, LLC.

District Superintendent Don Mook said the base needs to be installed for a week before the installation of the bleachers.

Furthermore, the board also approved a contract with HK to excavate and install concrete in front of the concession stands and a sidewalk to the restrooms.

The work was awarded to HK Concrete for a combined amount of $43,206 for all contracts.

The board also approved a contract with Howells & Baird to provide civil and site engineering services, construction layout and construction phase services for turf on the existing football and soccer field at the high school site for $9,000.

Mook said the site is to be completed Sept. 1 of this year so it can be used for the upcoming soccer season and junior high football season.

“We will be playing our varsity football games in the park as we always do. However in order to get aligned with the timeline for selecting a turf company we also need to begin the appropriate civil engineering for the site,” he explained.