Liberty-Benton scores big with new fieldhouse

In a matchup of school spirit versus the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberty-Benton Eagles and their athletic boosters won! On Saturday, the district will cut the ribbon on its new, $1.5 million, 28,000-square-foot Eagle Fieldhouse and the facility will open for use by middle school and high school athletes, as well as other students. The facility houses a 50-by-50-yard indoor turf field. The event is open to the public. Doors open at 4:15 p.m., and the ribbon-cutting ceremony begins at 4:30 p.m. The fieldhouse is located near the center of the school district's campus at 9190 County Road 9. "The Liberty-Benton Athletic Boosters started with a vision for capital upgrades to the athletic campus at Liberty-Benton High School back in 2017," said Jason Broerman, president of the athletic boosters. "The vision became a reality when the Liberty-Benton Athletic Boosters' newly formed capital committee kicked off the project in February of 2020, just before the pandemic hit." Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, Broerman said the Liberty-Benton community rallied and raised the $1.5 million needed in cash and in-kind contributions. "Liberty-Benton has many great athletic achievements over the years, and many people have created so many memories," said Broerman. "Now, there are so many individuals and families that are a part of something bigger and leaving a legacy for generations of Liberty-Benton student-athletes to come." Superintendent Mark Kowalski described it as a team effort. "We appreciate the collaboration between the athletic boosters, capital committee members, board of education and Liberty-Benton district administration. Without this team approach, this facility would not have been possible," Kowalski said. "The efforts and dedication of our capital committee, as well as the generosity of the numerous community donors, speaks volumes about the commitment to our youth at Liberty-Benton." Kowalski said the new fieldhouse is "another piece to the puzzle" in the district's commitment to providing 21st-century facilities in academics, fine arts and athletics. Construction of the district's new prekindergarten through eighth-grade building began in June 2021. The 128,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed by spring 2023 and will be open for students, at the latest, by the start of the 2023-24 academic year. Included in the construction is an 800-seat performing arts auditorium, also set to be completed by spring 2023. Renovations to Liberty-Benton High School, which are also part of the district's facility project, will begin next summer and be completed in summer 2023. The renovations, which total $5 million, include roof upgrades, technology and security improvements, and classroom changes. The improvements are meant to extend the life of the building. The $45.6 million project is in partnership with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The local share is $25,594,646, and the state share is $19,981,455. In May 2019, district voters approved a 35-year, 7.3-mill bond issue to fund the project. Of the 7.3 mills, 6.8 mills were for construction and a half-mill was for continuing maintenance. Collections, already at a reduced millage, began in January 2020. Reduced debt and good financing options helped to lower the millage. An existing bond issue for construction of the district's high school expired in January 2020. Grant: 419-427-8412