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The Brady Elementary School gymnasium was filled with residents concerned that the bleachers would be torn down and not replaced before the start of the next school year. The loss of spectator seating would have a devastating impact on the district's athletic programs, they said, because the gate income helps fund numerous sports at all levels.

Last year, varsity football game gate receipts were around $24,000. Additional money is raised through concessions and souvenir sales.

Community morale would also suffer a blow, Julia Sadilek said. Area businesses would lose revenue if the football team wasn't able to hold home games, and the district could be less appealing to families making school of choice decisions.

"There is so much more to this than just football. So many people are willing to help you if you let us know what we need to do," Sadilek said.

Two weeks ago an engineering firm's inspection deemed the structure as unsafe and in need of extensive permanent repairs. Since then, Superintendent Kathy Stewart and other district personnel have been researching options for replacing the bleachers.

She said one vendor she spoke with offers a visitor-grade bleacher system that seats between 900 and 1,000 people for just over $100,000. If the district makes additional stadium improvements at a later date, those bleachers can be used as visitor and soccer game bleachers.

"It's not like we're buying something that we aren't going to use later," said former football coach James Szappan. He said he was going to check into the cost of a portable press box. The current bleachers seat 1,800 to 2,000 fans. With the smaller bleachers, some spectators may have to sit in lawn chairs.

Tim Weisenberger asked if the community could aid in the demolition and installation projects to save the district money. Stewart said she needed to investigate the legality of having volunteers provide labor under the direction of a bonded professional.

She said she was hesitant to have the district or sports boosters invest in a more costly or complex stadium project at this time because a community committee has been working on long-range facility study since January.

The group is currently reviewing proposals from engineering firms to assist with a comprehensive feasibility and facilities use study. The results of the project will include suggestions for stadium and athletic field improvements and redesign.

"This step will allow us to have a home season and give us time to finish the feasibility study," Stewart said. "This is still a good place to hold home games."

The district is legally required to publish the bid request for two weeks. Stewart said she expected to have bids ready for board review at the May 19 board of education meeting. One company told Stewart it would take 4-6 weeks from order to delivery, which would give the district two months to complete a community build project before football season begins.