Garrettsville – As you may be aware, the James A. Garfield Local Schools were recently awarded a $5 Million grant to construct an addition on the elementary to create a centralized campus and update our technology. While this is exciting and will shape the education of kids for years to come, this is just the beginning! Since grant dollars cannot be used to address other issues like our athletic fields or stadium, we have brought many groups together over the past two months and have everyone’s efforts pointed in the same direction. Through a concentrated fundraising campaign we will update our athletic facilities in phases without having to raise taxes in our community.
Over the years there have been groups of individuals who have spearheaded fundraising efforts for the purpose of stadium improvements. These efforts will not go to waste. For example, the G-Men Foundation recently purchased new goal posts that will be part of the first phase of stadium improvements that you will see in the fall of 2014. The difference between our previous efforts and this undertaking is that we are now all working together to achieve the same goal. All of our efforts are pointed towards a common goal. The James A. Garfield Athletic Boosters will be handling the finances of our fundraising efforts, and we will update our athletic facilities in the following manageable phases:
Phase 1 – Safety of players and fans
– Move field away from home bleachers by 10 feet
– Replace wood posts and ropes with four foot safety fencing
– Install new goal posts (donated by G-Men Foundation)
– Stabilize visitor bleachers with a permanent concrete pad
– Completion set for Fall 2014
Phase 2 – Spectator seating
– Purchase safety and ADA compliant aluminum bleachers for home and visitor seating
– Construct new press box
Phase 3 – Fan experience
– Construct new concession booths
– Construct permanent ADA compliant restrooms
Phase 4 – Scoreboard and track
– Construction of all-weather track
– Installation of new field scoreboards
The completion of each phase will make our facilities safer and more welcoming to our athletes and spectators. Fundraising efforts will allow our band, football, soccer, baseball, softball and track athletes to perform on state-of-the-art facilities. These will be facilities our community can be proud of and enjoy for decades.
I have personally challenged every student who is able to take part in these fundraising efforts to do so, and today I extend that challenge to the entire community. Our students and community deserve facilities we can all be proud of, and this is the first step in making that a reality. By accepting the challenge you are improving the future of students in our community for years to come!
As always, if you have any questions, please call me directly in the office (330.527.4336) or on my cell (216.534.7413).
