Former Williston High School principal Del Easton, along with Frank Keogh and Deb Kemp, made a visit to the District 1 Finance Committee meeting Thursday night to speak about a project to repair the tennis courts at Williston's Davidson Park.

"Through the years I've become so enthused about lifetime sports that I wanted our students exposed to them," said Easton, noting he hired a high school teacher in 1975 to teach English and tennis.

"It's important to have good facilities for students to learn whether it's school buildings or sports facilities," he added.

In addressing the committee members, Easton said the existing nets and poles at the four courts are not regulation and six courts are needed to put on a high school meet.

The plan is to take the existing four courts and make them into three with the improvement of the surface. Then on the east side, the plan is to add three courts with new fences, sidewalks and lights. The timetable for the project is to start construction right after the girls' season is over in the spring and have it finished by the time the boys' fall season starts.

Easton, Kemp and Keogh are responsible for raising money for the project. The total cost is estimated between $200,000 and $220,000, much of which depends on the cost of concrete.

"It's to give us a really great tennis venue for our community and our kids," Easton said of the proposal.

The three are asking the school board for a one-time grant of $50,000 out of next year's budget, as Williston Parks and Recreation has agreed to take care of all future needs like resurfacing or repairing nets.

The Williston park district has given $5,000 out of this year's budget for the project and has agreed to give $10,000 out of next year's.

Easton estimated $76,000 in private and other donations have been raised for the project.

Kemp talked about the likelihood of a grant from the U.S. Tennis Association, noting part of it is allotted for programming.

"We have been approved for the project, so now the tennis rep for our region is coming in January to help us complete the next step of the grant process," said Kemp. "It would probably be about $20,000 that would go toward the courts."

The Finance Committee agreed to bring the funding request for the courts to the next full board meeting on Jan. 22.

Meanwhile, school district business manager Connie Blatherwick gave the committee a short update on the current expenditures. Districtwide, 39.3 percent of the general fund dollars have been spent, which totals $8,234,238 as of Dec. 31. Total revenue was $8,300,000 during this same period.

Blatherwick attributed the small increase from last year's numbers to a to salary increases of 6 percent.

"We're in line with what was projected for the budget," said Blatherwick.

Interim superintendent Dr. Kent Hjelmstad agreed the district is doing well.

"We're reasonably on track as per the time of year that we're in," he said.