Marshfield School Board Approves Loan to Begin Paying for Athletic Facilities Improvements
Thursday, February 14th, 2019 -- 9:06 AM
(WDLB) -With Marshfield School District officials announcing last month they had reached fundraising goals for new athletic facilities, the Board of Education is now taking steps to start paying contractors for the early stages of the improvements being made.The School Board voted seven-to-nothing last night in favor of borrowing seven-million dollars. Board member Dale Yakaites said the money would bridge the gap between the work that's getting done now and the fundraising pledges that come in over the next four to five years. The School District announced last month pledges and donations had exceeded what was needed from the public in order for the athletic upgrades to occur. More than 500 donors helped raise the money over the last year-and-a-half. Among the highlights will be the Kenneth and Ardyce Heiting Community Stadium, which will be located on the campus of Marshfield High School. This new multi-use sports complex will accommodate football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field events, plus marching band activities. New baseball and softball diamonds will be constructed adjacent to the high school, as well as upgraded outdoor facilities at the middle school. The project is well underway. The Boson Company started the project with the relocation of the bus transfer lot and student parking, as well as site work for the new stadium, baseball diamond, and softball diamond. The stadium and ball diamonds are slated to be completed in late summer and then work will begin at the middle school.
Donations for the Building on a Tradition of Excellence capital campaign are still being accepted through the Marshfield Area Community Foundation. A groundbreaking ceremony is being planned for mid-April. The Rettler Corporation of Stevens Point has designed more than 11-million dollars worth of athletic facility improvements over the next several years. Also last night, Superintendent Dr. Ryan Christianson said that, because of all the recent snow days, the last day of school has been pushed back to Friday, June 7. He also said there would likely be additional measures taken to make up for lost class-time minutes here-and-there, but he did not lay out those specific plans last night--noting those plans might quickly change if additional snow days are needed because of more bad weather.
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