HHS track causing a sticky situation

Michelle Stuckey/Herald Guide

An attempt to repair the track was unsuccessful resulting in a sticky substance that led to shoe prints.

School officials are seeking a legal opinion because of the massive deterioration of the Hahnville High School track after only seven years of use. The track can no longer be used for meets because of the degraded surface structure.

The track was put down in 2004 by Mondo USA Inc., who also built the track at Destrehan High the same year. Both tracks had a five-year warranty that ran out in 2009, but Destrehan's track is holding up much better with only slight fading and no structural damage.

Large areas of the HHS track resemble dry rot and pieces flake off easily when walked on, especially at the starting line and the area where football players run onto the field.

John Rome, Executive Director of Physical Plant Services, said that the track could not be used for meets until it is significantly repaired or replaced.

"I think the track deteriorated long before it should have," said School Board member Sonny Savoie during a committee meeting last week.

The track's deterioration could be caused by many factors, including faulty construction or environmental stress.

Rome said he does not know why the HHS track is falling apart so much, but that the administration is getting paperwork and information about the track together to send off for legal and expert opinions on how to proceed.

The district had previously attempted to have the track repaired, but the track was too damaged and the attempt was "very unsuccessful" resulting in a sticky substance that stuck to shoes and made imprints when walked on.

To replace the track, Mondo USA would normally charge about $650,000, which the company offered to discount by 30-percent for a total cost of $455,000. But Rome said that another vendor gave an estimate in the $375,000 range for replacing the track. In both cases, he said there will be some additional costs, mainly asphalt patching and repairing because of the current deterioration.