Huntsville City Schools plans $16.5M for turf and tracks

Huntsville City Schools is planning $16.5 million in artificial turf and synthetic tracks for all five of its high schools and Milton Frank Stadium. The stadium comes first, with its new turf due before the 2027 football season.

The Huntsville City Board of Education reviewed the plan at its Nov. 10 work session. At the same meeting it approved plans for a $14 million renovation and expansion of the campus shared by Lee High School and New Century Technology High School. The district set out both projects in a news release after the meeting.

The athletic fields plan

The district said the $16.5 million initiative covers:

• renovations to the existing fields and tracks at the five high schools
• multipurpose artificial turf and rubberized synthetic tracks at those schools
• replacement of the artificial turf at Milton Frank Stadium

Fencing, concessions, restrooms, parking, scoreboards, goals and goalposts will be looked at school by school, based on each site’s needs, the district said.

HNP Architects has been identified as the architect, with a proposed base fee of $690,000. Work at Milton Frank Stadium is expected to be finished before the 2027 football season starts. The high schools follow in phases over later years, which the district said is meant to keep athletic seasons running.

The release does not give a school-by-school order for the high school fields.

Lee and New Century: $14 million

The board approved plans for the shared Lee and New Century campus. The district said the project includes:

• a new administrative area for New Century staff
• renovations to the black-box theater for everyday use
• classroom moves and reconfigurations
• more seating in the competition gym
• more gym storage, concessions, restrooms and better access for events

Archemy Architects has been identified as the architect. The project is expected to go out for bids in May 2027. The gym work would start after that and take about a year. Most interior renovations are planned for summer 2028.

When new schools open

The board also heard an update on the district’s capital plan. The Columbia High School JROTC complex opened in October 2026, and an addition at McNair Middle School opened in August 2026.

The new gyms replace older “pod” gymnasiums. The district said that work is done at Chaffee and Highlands elementary schools, and Ridgecrest and Weatherly elementary schools are next.

Designs are also underway for four elementary schools, the district said:

• Monte Sano: about 85% complete
• Weatherly: about 65% complete
• Ridgecrest: about 65% complete
• Dawson: about 35% complete

New board member, same officers

Payten Redfearn was sworn in before the work session as the District 3 member. Redfearn succeeds Andrea Alvarez, who did not seek reelection.

The board then reorganized and kept its officers:

• Carlos Mathews, president
• Ryan Renaud, vice president
• Holly McCarty, third presiding officer

The board also reviewed two contract renewals. One is a one-year rental of portable classrooms at Monte Sano Elementary from Mobile Modular Management Corp., at an expected $42,912 a year. The other renews a Domino’s Pizza contract at $8.50 a cheese or pepperoni pizza, with no delivery charge.

What it means for you

• Football fans: Milton Frank Stadium is due for new turf before the 2027 season starts. The other high school fields will change over several years, not all at once.
• Lee and New Century families: expect most construction after bids go out in May 2027. Interior work is aimed at summer 2028, when school is out.
• Elementary families at McDonnell, Farley and Rolling Hills: new gyms are due in May 2027.
• District 3 residents: Payten Redfearn is now your board member.

For school zones, board districts and enrollment, see our guide to Huntsville public schools. Friday night results are on the high school scoreboard.