JBHS raises over $1M for athletic facilities
MERCERSBURG - James Buchanan High School is closing its Fix JB Sports Capital Campaign, which raised more than $1,144,000 to improve the school's athletic facilities.
The campaign was started in 2009 by a group of parents, grandparents, community members and school staff and was sponsored by the James Buchanan Athletic Booster Association.
Through the campaign, the school was able raise enough money for several improvements, including:
- A new weather track, which was funded by the campaign and the district and allowed the school to host home track meets for the first time in more than 10 years.
- Renovations to the pool locker rooms, including more than 130 moisture-proof pool lockers installed by volunteers, and renovations to the swimming pool area.
- A new swim meet scoreboard and timing system for the pool.
- Completion of the Christine Beddard Tennis Complex to replace severely cracked courts, which gave the school the opportunity to host home tennis matches for the first time in 10 years.
- A new 90-space parking lot behind Rocket Stadium.
- The completion of the Edwards Concession Building at Rocket Stadium.
- Installation of a new, natural grass competition soccer field behind the tennis courts.
- Construction of a pool office for aquatics personnel.
"The impact of Fix JB Sports on the student body, as well as the community, has been tremendous," the Fix JB Sports committee said in a news release. "There is a renewed sense of pride and school spirit. The students have greatly benefited from the community support of athletics and physical fitness as positive lifelong values."
Athletic Director Larry Strawoet said students appreciate and take pride in being part of a facility that's state of the art.
"We were able to upgrade and improve all of our facilities at a level that all of our athletes feel very proud to participate in," he said.
Strawoet also said one of his proudest moments was seeing the district, the community and the campaign come together to help fund these improvements.
"Our kids and our community take care of this," he said. "We don't want to get to the deplorable conditions we once were at."
As the Capital Campaign closes out, the Fix JB Sports Athletic Facilities Fund has been established to assist the school's athletic facility needs in the future. To donate to the fund, checks may be made out to "Fix JB Sports" and mailed to the Fix JB Sports Athletic Facilities Fund at 4773 Fort Loudon Road, Mercersburg, PA 17236.
For more information, contact Strawoet at 717-328-2146, ext. 2210, or email larry.strawoet@tus.k12.pa.us.