LEESVILLE — Plans to refurbish athletic tracks for a pair of Vernon Parish schools may take longer than anticipated after School Board officials delayed the resurfacing of one indefinitely and tabled the other’s approval until the next meeting.

Tim Ward, school system finance director, requested additional time to review the lowest bid for the Leesville High School track and to ensure the specifications included were correct. Ward said he was scheduled to meet with Hellas Construction, the company that put in the low bid of $189,900 for the work.

“We just want to have time to review the (specifications),” Ward said. “We just don’t want to rush anything because it is such a big purchase.”

Resurfacing for the Pickering High School track was delayed after Ward recommended the board reject all the bids received. He said officials would “revisit (the item) at a later date.” The lowest bidder was United Sports Systems of Wichita, Kan., for $121,500.

Board member Doug Brandon, of District 1, asked Ward about the reason for the delay, and Ward said the specifications for the track did not match the necessary repairs.

“Budget-wise, we don’t think we’re going to get what we need to fix this track out of this bid,” he said.

Superintendent James Williams said the projects should be completed by September.

During the meeting the board also voted to lease six school buses for $157,933 and to tentatively approve the purchase of five new buses for $383,000 once the board knows the exact financing cost.