The Oskaloosa School Board set aside time to hash out a few concerns about the budding new stadium project.

For now, the project could include primary and secondary stadiums. The primary facility would include a track around a field used mainly for football. The secondary stadium would be used mostly for soccer games.

The school district’s activities director Kevin Pederson and several other key figures made their feelings known to the school board at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The issue of maintaining the new facilities was one of the main issues at the Tuesday night’s meeting.

Pederson said that if Oskaloosa Schools are involved with the new stadiums, William Penn University and the public school district will be in charge of their own games. He explained by saying things like concessions Oskaloosa Schools make money on at football games would not be changed at the new facilities.

William Penn Athletic Director Greg Hafner said Penn and Oskaloosa Schools could work together on things like upkeep of the new facilities, which he said would be owned by Penn.

“We know there will be some maintenance issues that will be shared,” said Hafner. “But, as far as a fee to use the facility, that’s not the intent at all. The intent is just to provide a nice facility for the entire community.”

Oskaloosa School Board member Jon Denniston expressed concern over what he believed could amount to using Oskaloosa Schools’ public funding for a private venture because of Penn’s ownership of the new facilities.

Hafner answered by saying the school district would save money in the long run by backing the new stadium project. He added the school already spends money on the maintenance of the current stadium.

“The maintenance should be cheaper than a grass field,” said Hafner in reference to the proposed turf fields at the new facilities.

Hafner went on to say that money to pay for the construction of the new facilities is expected to come from donations and grants.

Pederson said maintenance of the new facility is the only possible financial impact the new facilities could have on Oskaloosa School District.

“I could take that maintenance cost out of my activities fund,” said Pederson.

School Board member Anne Whitis explained why she believes the school board is hesitant to sign on with the new stadium project.

“It’s a tough year,” she said. “We’re cutting things we don’t want to cut. We’re just nervous about that.”