A renovation project at Saline High School's football stadium is nearly complete and, as a sign at the Hornet Stadium gate proudly states, no education dollars have been used.

The school's athletic department has spent roughly $275,000 on a project that improved the stadium's concessions area and created a roof-top viewing patio in the south end zone above new locker rooms and offices for the schools' football and soccer coaches. That total includes new landscaping around the addition.

The purpose of the sign at the stadium's game is two-fold. First, it recognizes community members' contributions to the project. It also, Saline athletic director Rob White hopes, avoids the perception that athletes are getting a red-carpet at a time when teachers are getting pink-slipped.

“In this climate, there’s no way that you can possibly go for educational dollars or general fund dollars for this type of project. It’s insane,” White said. “The education is what’s most important.

“We were able to do this in a creative way, improve our facilities, provide something even better for our kids without even going the bond money route or using general fund dollars.”

About $70,000 of the project's funds have been raised by the football program over the past six years. Another large portion was paid for through a Saline Area Schools C.A.R.E.S. (Cultural, Arts, Recreation Enrichment, Seniors) grant secured by football coach Mike Glennie, with additional funding coming from private donations.

Instrumental in the process has been the contributions of community members in the actual work done. Braun Construction Group, a Farmington Hills-based company, built the locker rooms and rooftop patio at a far reduced rate.

“They’ve done a lot of the things, to be honest, I don’t know how they’re doing it,” White said. “They’re doing it right at or below cost. They’re donating back to this community by providing the facilities and we’re getting an amazing price.”

Braun Construction president Steve Braun is a 1979 Saline graduate and a former football player. He’s had three sons graduate from Saline and another enrolled as a freshman. He views the project as a way to give back.

“For our company, it was a really small project and we wouldn’t bid a project that size. But I live in the community and thought it would be a good thing to do,” Braun said. He estimated his company charged 25-30 percent less than it normally would for the project.

Also offering their services at a premium rate were local architect Mike Pagliano, and Dan Young of Dan Young Custom Woodworking.

“My kids are coming through the school system, two daughters, so It’s nice to give back,” Young said.

“Mr. Pogliano was my drafting teacher at (Washtenaw Community College) for a short period and I knew he had done the Saline District Library and I knew he was exceptional,” said Doug Bacon, director of facilities for Saline Community Schools. “So I contacted him and he picked up on the thing.”

“We never would have been able to get an architect in, engineers to come out, draw this building then get it approved had they not done so much in just giving back to the community and keeping the cost down for us,” White said.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.