Louisa, Ky. — A multipurpose turf field is finally becoming a real thing for Lawrence Co. High School after the board of education meeting Monday night. The drive to install turf at Luke Varney, Jr. Stadium became a reality on a unanimous vote of the board. The price of the improvements are expected to be just under $1 million.
A new $1 million girl’s sports complex is currently under construction at the school already.
The turf will be installed at the end of this school year, Supt. Fletcher said. He said at least 93 Kentucky schools have turned to the synthetic material for their fields because of low upkeep and 128 schools still have field turf.
As has been rumored for months, Board Chairman Heath Preston turned in his resignation at last night’s meeting, after voting for the turf. His job with Codell, Inc. has caused him to relocate to the greater Cincinnati area where his kids are in school. {Preston’s statement will be posted as soon as we get it. Supt. Fletcher has also not commented on the resignation as of yet…See BOE press agent Sarah Gauze’s report in The Lazer this week}.
But the video of the meeting is not audible and Preston’s long speech telling of his accomplishments while on the board cannot be heard. It is also not clear when the resignation officially takes place but Fletcher sent copies of applications for the position to be posted today.
Preston has been one of the biggest fans of sports programs during his two term tenure on the board. He. was a standout football player for the Dawgs back in the day.
This is a picture of one of the designs.
The project is scheduled to be done before school is out in May of 2023 and will be ready for the start of soccer and football season for the Bulldogs. THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.
Another picture of what the field could look like.
Lawrence Co. Superintendent Dr. Robbie Fletcher
SUPT. COMMENTS
“…The Board of Education made an exciting decision for the students and staff of Lawrence County. Not only will the soccer and football teams have the latest turf technology for a playing surface, but other Lawrence County High School programs will also have the opportunity to use the field for practice as well. This project has been a discussion for our Board for a long time. Fortunately, we were able to get price quotes that were much cheaper than we had received in the past couple of years. Also, Judge Phil Carter and the Lawrence County Fiscal Court have promised to help with preparing the field for its new surface. This partnership also has the potential to save the school system thousands more dollars in the project.”
“… This is just one example of what we can do for our kids with proper funding. Hopefully, with an addition of the dime tax, we can fund a new school as well as several other renovations/upgrades for our students. As I have stated before, let’s build a better future for our kids. They deserve it!”
Lawrence Co. Head Football Coach Alan Short
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… The entire Lawrence County football program, high school through our youth league is grateful for the board’s vote last night in approving a synthetic turf field in Lawrence County.”
“… The board’s decision will positively impact roughly 400 Lawrence County students per year. Simply put, this is a great investment in our students for which I am deeply appreciative.”
“… We have always had nice facilities in Lawrence County, but this will make our field world class. Multiple sports, activities, and classes will be able to utilize this facility.”
“… We are very appreciative of Dr. Fletcher, Mr. Burns, and our school board. Without them, this would not be possible. Last night was a great moment for the entire Lawrence County school system.”
Lawrence Co. Boys Soccer Head Coach Scott Johnson
“… Getting turf is a great addition to our already amazing facilities in Lawrence County. Having an all weather surface to play on is very exciting whether it’s for soccer, football, or any other sport.”
Can someone please explain how this new almost one million dollar turf will help educate our children. This is why I am 100% against a 10% tax increase. Money used for sports that doesn’t help in the education of our children. It looks nice but the money could be used to make repairs on one of the buildings. People are struggling to pay their bills. Some have to choose between groceries and their medicine. We the people can’t afford more taxes that will be used to upgrade the sports fields etc.
AMEN!! SPORTS SHOULD BE SECOND TO EDUCATION. THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES!!!
Exactly, also don’t forget this is the second or third time teachers and staff got only .01% raise which is ridiculous. If they were in it for education that’s where the money would be spent. Just think how much $2,000,000.00 would benefit in technology, staff pay increases and retaining teachers….
Absolutely. The GOP says they gave money to the school districts to allot for raises. That is why they won’t approve any of the Governor’s push for raises. Well, this district didn’t get it. It’s infuriating to me that they keep putting money into buildings and not investing in their people. We keep losing teachers and staff because of pay. There is going to be a mass retirement shortly. Some teachers are only staying because they are so close to retirement, otherwise they would have left for a neighboring county. However, when you leave it isn’t guaranteed that you keep your tenure.
Cool. Did they also set money aside for a higher insurance rate? Turf causes more accidents than sod for the high school age group.
Yes! This is a day for celebration. No, I’m not talking about the turf. 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎊🎊🎉🎉🎉
I understand your point but you have to realize that not everything that schools provide are instructional. This would provide these students with self-esteem and pride to let them know they are just as worthy and important as all the other students in Eastern Kentucky. Just about every school has this and Lawrence County is one of the last few to get it. I am happy for the football, track, cheerleading and band to have such a nice place to be proud of.
First of all, I am glad we are getting turf. What I don’t understand is how we can add turf, build a new softball facility and still ask for a dime tax for a new elementary school among other things. I do know certain monies have to be spent in certain places. It just seems like poor timing on the boards part. Most people do not know how money is spent. This board does a poor job explaining this to the public. As I have always said, this board is not transparent with the TAXPAYERS money. This is why a lot of the public doesn’t trust you. As for Mr. Preston, good riddance. You sir didn’t accomplish anything on your own. The accomplishments were done as a group within the board of education. You did have one big accomplishment while on the board though. You sir created a lot of TURMOIL within the board and community.
You cannot be gone soon enough .
Amen and you nailed it on Preston. I expected him to leave the area after all the negativity that he brought upon himself.
This is all a ploy to get the Football Community behind the DIME tax. Everyone knows this is a football county so the timing of this announcement is strategic.
I am a teacher in this district and believe me, I want our kids to have everything that other schools around the state have, but we also have to live. I am infuriated that teacher raises are always shot down and not a priority. So many of us in this district have a 2nd job because we don’t make enough here. The board may try to say “we approved a 1.5% raise” and act like they are doing something amazing. Let me tell you what that equals on each check – $22. Inflation is at a 40 year high with a 9% rise this year alone. We are struggling. There is a substitute shortage, so we are working OT without being compensated for it. I give up on average about 3 planning periods a week, so that is a whole work day without a break except for thr 25 minutes that we get to scarf down lunch which turns into about 20 minutes by the time you go to the restroom or use a microwave.
Everyone needs a break each day if it is just to go to the bathroom without having to be rushed or make some important phone calls, prepare for the next day, etc.
I’m disappointed that sports facilities are more important than paying those that are the backbone of the schools, that do so much for these children – educating, counseling, keeping them safe, etc.
We can’t speak up for fear of retaliation but we have had reps speak for us. It isn’t rocket science that our salaries haven’t budged, but every service that we use and everything that we buy has increased in price.
Anyone who does not support this dime tax, others will portray them as they aren’t for improvements to the school district and that just isn’t so. It’s because people can’t take one more hit to their wallet.
It’s unfortunate that this is the formula the state has set in order to get those extra funds. It hurts the rural districts.
Totally agree with everything you’ve said! You nailed it! System seems to be broken with the board making big salaries doing absolutely nothing while the teachers who hold all the responsibility shaping the minds of our young ones get nothing in return! Turf doesn’t make you a better player in any sport! Period! Whoever thinks they do is a parent trying to live vicariously through their children it’s silly! Your mind is most important! Use some of the boards wage increases they get to vote for themselves to pay our hard working teachers more and take some of the overly taxed library funds to push your silly agendas!
Are children or their parents still being paid to move to Lawrence County if they appear to be good at football? The tail wags the dog.
You’re talking about Belfry, right? It’s ridiculous how much of this was going on at Belfry. It appears that that may not have been the case this football season.
Sports has ALWAYS been the top priority of LC for years and years. When all else fails, the games MUST go on! I’ve never understood how, in the middle of a multi-day snow outage, that games can still be scheduled. If it’s unsafe for a bus to be on the road carrying students to school , then how is it safe for that same bus to be on the same road carrying students to a ballgame? This system is sports-driven to the point of endangering student safety. Nothing will ever be done to boost the education aspect in LC. When it’s all said and done, the money that is supposed to go toward a new vocational complex will go to the athletic programs. Don’t believe me? Let’s all sit back and watch together! If I’m wrong, I’ll be the first to eat crow! But I don’t think I’ll be needing a fork and knife!
It’s not about safety at all. It is about low attendance on snow days which means less money. If schools didn’t loose state funding based on attendance then there would be very few days missed.
You’re a dumb ass. Teachers are 10 month employees. That means all this wonderful time off you’re taking about they don’t get paid for. They work X amount of days for X amount of pay. If they miss for a snow day that day has to be made up. Maybe you can be a substitute since they are so short handed and make you some easy money….
Above comment is for keeping it real only.
When teachers are over worked they should plan themselves an easy day. They have free reign to do this. Put it in your lesson plan as some catchy name and youll be fine. Teachers have been doing this for years. Some teachers do it everyday. Stop killing yourself. Its the principals job to monitor teachers which hardly ever happens. For the time teachers get off their pay is pretty darn good. Might be time to change professions. You wont get all the time off you do now. I agree no new taxes.
It’s very obvious that you don’t work in a school or are close to anyone who does because your post is full of untruths. Sign up to substitute and see just how much we work.
Everything I said is true. I taught for almost 20 years. Teachers who reads my post knows its true.
Predicted this. Preston thumbing his nose at Lawrence County one more time. We was sure he would leave when he got thumped by Judge Carter.
He has sucked all of the tax payer money he can from our county now he is off to another county to do the same. Maybe the other county needs a library addition for him to get a few hundred thousand from.
I just hope he stays gone. There’s a lot of skeletons in that guys closet that nobody knows about.
Preston really thinks so highly of himself. Remember how much he loved LC and the kids. His campaign on bringing jobs and money in growing the county. Where is all that. Remember he had contacts… In reality he’s a liar and a thief. I feel sorry for his wife because she is such a nice compassionate lady. She probably was told she was moving.