Peabody High removes visitor bleachers from football field

PEABODY – Students may have noticed something missing as they returned to Peabody Veterans Memorial High School yesterday.The entire visitor section of bleachers along the football field were removed just over two weeks ago after Peabody Building Inspector Kevin Goggin deemed them “unsafe and dangerous to life and limb.””They weren’t in bad shape,” said Athletic Director Phil Sheridan. “They were very, very old.”Sheridan said the bleachers were brought to the high school from the old Buckley football stadium back in the 1970s. They were first placed at Buckley 30 years earlier in the 1940s, making the structure roughly 60 years old.Because they were so outdated, the bleachers didn’t have proper footers that are used to prevent small children from slipping out beneath the seats.”Physically, they were fine,” said Sheridan. “The metal was fine?We had an architectural exam three years ago where we replaced any boards that needed to be replaced. But, they’re not up to code these days.”The school’s insurance company decided that they will no longer cover the bleachers, said Sheridan, and as a result, the city would be liable for any injury that may occur on them.Superintendent Milt Burnett announced their removal at a School Committee meeting last week. He said that members of the school administration team are looking into the replacement of the bleachers. In the meantime, he will put in a request for the use of capital funds.”We are in discussion about possibly purchasing some transportable bleachers,” said Sheridan, adding that a permanent structure would be unlikely, given the need for easy access by emergency vehicles. “They would be good because we could use them on the soccer field, too.”Sheridan has sent out a number of emails to bleacher companies requesting information. From what he’s found, the cost for movable bleachers could range between $5,000-$12,000.Sheridan said that he hasn’t given himself a deadline to complete the new installation because he would rather take his time and make sure the purchase is feasible for the field.For now, visitors and residents will share the same cheering section.”We haven’t had huge crowds over the last few years, but my hope is that we will,” said Sheridan. “I don’t expect it to be a big problem.”