RIPON – Could there be another option as to where to place the shot put/discus venue at Stouffer Field?

Trustees of the Ripon Unified School District along with members of the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation are certainly hoping that’s the case.

At Thursday’s 5 p.m. special session at the district office, 304 N. Acacia Ave., the board will look at two more options other than the already-discussed Ripon High baseball field and the Ripon Elementary School playground.

The initial phase of the modernization plan involving the Ripon High stadium has yet to receive approval from the Division of the State Architect in Sacramento. The sticking point, according to Vince Hobbs and members of RCAF, is placement of the shot put/discus venue.

“We’re landlocked and starved for space at RHS,” Hobbs said at last month’s board meeting.

Trustees, who were two elected leaders shy back then, opted to table this item with hopes of getting additional input with their scheduled return.

Since that time, however, they may have found a solution to their problem at the north end of the stadium.

The original plans called for a drainage basin necessary for the synthetic surface. But when RCAF decided to go with the natural turf, the draining basin was discarded, thus, leaving an open area on that side of stadium.

One plan would call for the field participants in both throwing events to be placed nearly side-by-side yet at a safe distance away while facing in opposite directions during practices and competitions.

The other plan has the discus throw area to run nearly parallel with the fence. The shot put would be placed closer to the track but aimed northeast.

Placement of the throwing venues on the baseball diamonds opposed by the RHS baseball program because of scheduling conflicts between the two spring sports and, more importantly, safety concerns.

 The Ripon Elementary School site came with the minimal infrastructure needed in order to be in compliant with the American with Disabilities Act but school officials came out against that plan.

The venue would been placed alongside the fire road but next to the building housing two after-school programs including the Give Every Child A Chance program servicing 70 to 80 students.

Other concerns were that of the seventh- and eighth- grade girls practicing and playing softball games on the Ripon Elementary School field.

Meanwhile, RCAF’s timetable on the work continues to fall behind schedule while awaiting DSA approval.

More information can be obtained by calling the district office at (209) 559-2131 or log on to www.riponusd.net.