The Tusky Valley Trojan Booster Club is seeking donations to help fund an overhaul of its athletic fields and stadium. Completion of the $1.9 million project will cap off a Facilities Master Plan developed several years ago, with the goal of bringing all the district’s schools onto one multi-school campus.
“We did not use any district dollars in building those facilities or ask the community to pass a bond levy,” said Dr. Derek Varansky, superintendent of the school district. “We used tax utility dollars from the Rover pipeline.”
The focus now is on upgrading the stadium and athletic fields, starting with the installation of turf on the football field. Synthetic turf has been shown to be safer than playing on grass when it rains. It’s also easier and less costly to maintain.
“We’re very proud of our existing fields and the people who raised a lot of money and spent a lot of time building them,” Varansky said. “What it comes down to now is getting more use out of our fields by making them usable for multiple things and impacting as many athletes and programs as possible.”
The plan, according to Varansky, is to install a multipurpose turf that will allow the boys and girls soccer teams to also play in the football stadium.
“Right now the games are being played in a flood plain where there are no lights, bleachers or running water,” Varansky said. “This would complete the campus. We’re thrilled to have beautiful buildings for our kids to learn in. And the original high school is taking on new life as a community center, senior center and health clinic.”
After turfing the football field, Varansky said the baseball and softball fields and the football practice field would be turfed next.
“More and more schools are turfing the infield of their baseball and softball fields because it really helps with all the wet weather we get in the spring,” he said.
According to Varansky, the price for the turf includes redoing everything on the inside of the fence.
“So the high jump area, the long jump area, all of that would be upgraded for our track field teams as well. It’s the complete package for everybody that’s involved with football, baseball, softball, soccer, and track and field,” Varansky said.
Huddling up
The board of education’s facility committee held a public meeting the week of Feb. 17 to gauge public interest and find people who may be willing to help with the project.
Those assembled at the meeting were advised there are no state funds available for this initiative. All $1.9 million will have to be raised.
“We had coaches at the meeting, members of the community, athletic boosters and others, and at the end of the meeting, it was unanimous,” Varansky said. “Everybody in the room said turf was the way we needed to go.”
The company chosen to manage the turf project is Maumee Bay Turf of Oregon, Ohio.
“Lay the turf, build the legacy”
That’s the theme the athletic booster club has come up with for the fundraising campaign. The booster club will accept any donations, large or small. But they’ve also come up with several higher levels of donation for businesses and donors who can give more than the average person. Find the levels and the recognition given at each level at www.facebook.com/TVTrojans.
Varansky said he and the rest of the administration and booster club members are very cognizant of just how often they ask the community for money.
“One of the things I’m always cautious about is asking our community for too much,” Varansky said. “The athletic booster and I have spent a lot of time having conversations about not overburdening those that support us.”
The result is the district is reaching out beyond the immediate community, targeting larger corporations that aren’t located in the school district but that may employ parents.
The end zone
The last few yards of the new stadium project call for installing new stadium lights. According to Varansky, the existing lights were installed in 1989, and they were purchased used. The lights have frequently gone out during football games over the past few years.
“The only way we could keep the lights on was to change the fuses in every single light box before every home game,” Varansky said.
The cost to install new lights is $200,000, of which $80,000 has been raised by the athletic boosters.
How to help
There are several ways to donate to the Tusky Valley turf project. Checks can be mailed and made payable to Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools, Attn: Turf Project, 2637 Tusky Valley Road, Zoarville, OH 44656.
Donors should write “Turf” in the memo line of checks.
Donations also can be made online at www.tvtrojanboosters.org/shop-1. To discuss sponsorship opportunities or to join the committee, email tvtrojans@gmail.com or call or email Athletic Director Steve Franks at 330-859-8812 or steve.franks@tvtrojans.org.
