The Coupeville School Board on Monday gave its stamp of approval on a track project that came in $44,000 more than expected.

The final cost to remove the 32-year-old deteriorating track at Mickey Clark Field and replace it with a new, rubberized surface will be $782,000, which is higher than the original estimate of $738,000, Superintendent Jim Shank said Tuesday.

The additional amount was attributed to unforeseen costs associated with a required drain field, Shank said.

A special meeting was held Monday for school board members to review the changes.

Beynon Sports Surfaces is expected to start the project Monday, May 23, with completion scheduled for late August.

The football and baseball fields will be closed to the public during the project.

The track is expanding from six lanes to eight, allowing for the high school and middle school to hold home meets. Aside from the school benefit, the community also will be able to use the track during off hours when it is not being used for school events or purposes, Shank said.

The work is part of the first phase of the school district’s capital improvements project, which also will include work done at the middle and elementary schools this summer. Voters approved a $5 million capital projects levy in 2015.