PENDER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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The Pender Public School District is working to construct a complex that will include a track, football field, softball / youth baseball field, and the infrastructure necessary for a complex of this nature (grandstands, concessions, restrooms, etc.). The complex is located just north of David Nitzschke Memorial Baseball Field. The project will cost approximately $3 million.

On May 25, 2021, the first phase of construction of the Pendragon Sports Complex started!! On May 10, 2021, the Board of Education voted to accept a bid from ME Collins to complete the first phase of the project. The initial phase of the project was completed in August of 2022. This was extremely exciting for the school and community, because phase 1 provided the community with an amenity for the first time in history, a track! The Pendragon Sports Complex provides Pender Public Schools and the Community of Pender with facilities that have been missing for too long.

Included in the $1.3 million initial phase were an 8-lane competition track, a fence around the track, 2 long/triple jump runways with pits on each end, 1 discuss pad and throwing area, 2 shot put pads and throwing areas, grading and dirt work for the entire 20 acres of property for the complex, temporary detention areas needed to mitigate flooding, underground sprinklers inside of the track, electrical infrastructure, water infrastructure, sewer infrastructure, a driveway, and a small parking area. Not included in the first phase of the project were components that would allow the facility to be used for competition purposes and complete the entire project. Missing pieces included grandstands, field lighting, scoreboard, press box, restrooms, concession stand, storage building, parking large enough for competition purposes, softball / youth baseball field, and a few other key infrastructure items.

Since finishing phase 1 in August of 2022, a lot of progress has been made. The Pendragon Sports Complex is nearly ready for competitions for both football and track/field. Recently constructed were key components of the project including field lighting, a press box (which also provides a lot of storage space), and grandstands. These major components were completed in October of 2024. The cost for these three pieces of the puzzle was approximately $585,000. The great news is that donated funds were used to pay for these components! There is still some work to do to fully complete the press box, but the main structure is in place.

The goal is to begin playing home football games at the Pendragon Sports Complex in the Fall of 2025. That goal is incredibly attainable. Items needed to make that happen include a scoreboard, a speaker system, and finishing the inside of the press box. Once those items are finished, we are ready for football action!! The hope is to take care of these items for $150,000 or less. There are some variables involved that will determine whether or not that is possible. To be ready for track and field meets (hopefully in the Spring of 2026), a timing system is needed. The cost for a fully automated timing system is approximately $25,000. As can be seen, the District is very, very close to being ready for action at the Pendragon Sports Complex!

Needed eventually are a couple of components the District plans to install to make the facility much more functional. It is possible, however, to work around them for a short period of time if necessary. The most important piece of the puzzle is a building for restrooms and concessions. Along with the building, a lift station for sewer purposes will be needed. The hope is to construct this building and infrastructure for $500,000. Parking is also something that will require some work. There is plenty of space to park, but to make the parking area as functional as possible, work is needed. The last piece of the overall project is a softball / youth baseball field. The estimated cost for this is $500,000.

All of this means that the District still needs funds to fully complete the Pendragon Sports Complex. The finish line gets closer and closer all of the time, which is incredibly exciting. This is happening because of the generosity of so, so many people. All donations made to the Pendragon Sports Complex are incredibly appreciated! The facility would not be in exisitence without them!! Donations to date total just under $1 million! If one calculates the numbers above, there is still about $1.25 million worth of work that needs to be done.

Hopefully the District is able to find a way to get to the finish line very, very soon! Fundraising will continue to make that happen. Anyone with an interest in Pender Public Schools, the Community of Pender, or the Pendragon Sports Complex is encouraged to consider donating. Donations of all sizes are important, appreciated, and accepted.

All donations enjoy full tax benefits. In other words, a donation to this project would have the same result as a donation to any charitable organization. Donations can also be made in various ways and over time. If desired by the donor, donations can be divided over as many as 60 months. Along with that, gifts of grain, in kind donations, and other forms of donating are welcomed, encouraged, and greatly appreciated.

Donors who meet certain thresholds will be honored on site with special recognition. Below are the donation levels that will be recognized. The manner in which those donations will be recognized has not been finalized. Donors should know, however, the recognition strategy will be tactful, classy, and eye-catching. In other words, it will be done right!

Help move Pender Public Schools toward the goal of giving Pender High School track and field athletes their own practice and competition facility for the first time in school history! Help enhance the experiences of playing and watching events in Pender for other sports like football, baseball, and softball! Help provide an amenity to those living in and around Pender to use for recreational purposes as well as to improve their health and well being!

Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact Pender Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason Dolliver. He can be reached via email at jadolli1@penderschools.org, phone at (402) 385-3244, or in person at the school.

 Let's do something special! Let's make this dream a reality! If any community can make it happen, Pender is that community!