EDWARDSVILLE - During their work session on Nov. 10, 2025, the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the final change orders for the Edwardsville High School softball field.
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These change orders include the addition of the e-paw logo for $12,500; custom bleacher retrofit for $14,700; a concrete pad around the existing ramp and drain grate for $4,800; the extension of the turf between the batting cage and the first base fence line for $5,800; and fencing replacement for $81,600.
Before the vote, Acting Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan explained that the Board had to decide whether to replace the softball field’s fencing in black for $79,100 or to replace it in green for $81,600.
“That does not impact the size of the fence. It's just about the color,” he said.
He explained that the green fence costs more upfront, but it would match the other green fences that already exist in the sports complex. If the Board decided to go with the black fence and pay less, they would eventually have to pay to replace all the fences with black.
“The one thing that the black fence does is it does lock us in in terms of the direction we have to go with the remainder of the fences, because what that would mean is it would kind of force our hand a little bit to have to replace all the fences and make them black for the aesthetic component,” Duncan said.
Board member Matt Breihan asked how replacing the fence in black would push the district to replace all the fences. Duncan noted that a damaged green fence could be reused or repaired if the softball fences were also green.
But if the softball fence is black, it would push the district to eventually replace all other fences in the complex. This labor would cost $25,000 in today’s dollars, and material costs would increase due to inflation.
“If we stay green with the softball fence, that allows us to extend the life of these other fences that are already green,” Duncan said. “It wouldn’t be where we need to replace them, the whole replacement. We can maybe stretch them out or reuse them or figure out ways to make them last longer without having to say, ‘Okay, well, we need to replace the football fences in green because the softball fence is black.’”
Duncan added that it’s best to replace the softball fence now because the turf will be “compromised” if the Board decides to replace the fence later. He emphasized that the fence’s color is ultimately an aesthetic choice and the Board’s decision.
Board President Bob Paty clarified that black fences likely would age better in the sun than green fences. Board member Scott Ahart agreed that now is the best time to replace the fence, and he expressed his desire to stick with green instead of replacing functioning fences for aesthetic purposes later on. Other Board members agreed.
The Board ultimately decided to purchase the green fence for $81,600. They voted unanimously to approve the final change orders for the softball field.
“In terms of the planning and the necessities, the things that this field has to have to be functional, I think we’ve covered our bases,” Duncan added. “There may be something that pops up, but it’s not going to be where it’s an oversight on our end.”
