B-UHS to receive new turf

     

     Recently, the Upshur County Board of Education voted to approve new turf being purchased for the Freal Red Crites Memorial Stadium at the end of the 2017-2018 football season. The cost of the installation will be covered from available funds throughout this year and next. According to Rick Reynolds, B-UHS’ athletic director, the total cost will be $368,000, including the $30,000 discount from FieldTurf doing the work in a less busy season. “I personally think that this amount of money could be spent on something else around the school, rather than the football field,” says Hope Donahue.

     Reynolds stated that the school had collected $319,000 from tickets sold throughout the football season. This leaves $48,000 in funds to be raised. “Since this would be such an expensive renovation, we should wait until we raise more money. That way, it’s in our budget. I really do not think this is a great idea because of the expense,” says Zach Ward.

     The school board has come up with three different field designs. The first two leave the school name and logo on the field, and the third logo takes “Buckhannon-Upshur” off the two end zones. Doing this would save $16,000 and leave a $3,000 difference between the money B-UHS already has and what would need to be fundraised. “I don’t understand why Buckhannon-Upshur wouldn’t remain on the field. It shows off our school and our spirit,” says Donahue.

     Many board members are hesitant about this project, especially since Buckhannon-Upshur’s name has a chance to be kept off of the turf. “Board members might be hesitant about this project because it’s disrespect to the community to take our school name off the field,” says Ivy Ward. Reynolds says that he will continue to negotiate with FieldTurf to try to keep the costs for the new field as low as possible without compromising the field’s quality.