ADAMS TWP — A $10,000 repair bill that already had been paid when the Mars School Board voted Monday night to approve it prompted a pointed suggestion on communication by the board's newest member.

Dan Ratterman questioned administrators on the $8,000 to replace broken speakers in the sound system at Planet Stadium and $2,000 to replace faulty wiring under the stadium's new artificial turf when it was installed over the summer.

Ratterman contended the correspondence received by board members on such expenditures comes in the form of a list of bills. In that format, board members do not know until the board meeting what project the bills were for, he said.

Board member Dayle Ferguson agreed, saying she spends significant time on the telephone with business manager Jill Puryear learning the reasons for individual bills.

Ratterman said he is not trying to micromanage the school district, but he does not like voting to approve projects after they are finished and paid for.

"I'd like to have it ahead of time, before voting on it," said Ratterman.

Puryear explained to Ratterman the board would discuss and vote on an expenditure for a new item or project, but when items break, administrators decide whether to repair or replace the item. She said the district needs to keep systems running.

Puryear also said expenditures for unexpected maintenance issues, such as the speakers and wiring, are included in the district's budget, so the $10,000 is not a new expenditure.

But Ratterman said the administration had plenty of time to notify board members regarding the speakers and wiring at Planets Stadium.

Board member Rebecca Brown and superintendent William Pettigrew told Ratterman that, many times, the repair or replacement of an item cannot wait until a monthly board meeting to be voted upon. Puryear said fixing or replacing broken items and sending board members a list of bills with the monthly treasurer's report is how it has always been done at Mars.

"I hate that answer," said Ratterman. "We need to be proactive."

Board president Susan Madeja suggested the administration begin a trial program next month in which board members receive correspondence from administration regarding repair or replacement expenditures. Puryear agreed to do so.

"I want to be an informed board member," said Ratterman.