<div>ASHLAND — Construction on Southern Boone High School's football stadium and track field begins Friday, leaving parents and students upset about a change in location for some athletic games.Joy Ahern is a parent of a soccer player, and she says this whole process has been disappointing.“We had 24-hours notice that we wouldn’t have a field anymore for games or practices," Ahern said. The high school girls soccer team, which usually plays on the football field, and the track and field team cannot host any games or events due to the installation of a new track surface around the field.The Southern Boone School District and the Board of Education said they were informed in September 2023 that certain weather conditions would need to be met and no one could use the facility in order to properly install the track surface at the stadium.“Specifically, no foot traffic and overnight low temperatures could not drop below 45 degrees, along with each component of the track surface needing to be installed and cured before the next layer could be applied. This process typically takes three weeks with cooperative weather," according to a letter sent to families. In November 2023, Septagon Construction crews were set to address repairs to the asphalt portion of the track, but the company and the district agreed to delay the fixes until the spring due to the drop in temperature.Many parents believe they should have waited to fix the track field until this summer. “This project could have been delayed until June 1st and no teams would be impacted," Ahern said. "There wouldn’t be any impact to any student athletes at all and instead we are in a position where more than one sports team has been completely displaced.”The girls soccer team has hosted three home games this season and were scheduled for at least five more. On Thursday night, the team played Sunnydale Adventist Academy High School as their last home game of the season.Ahern feels it's important for the players, especially the seniors, to partake in the many traditions Southern Boone has to offer. Now since they won't have any home games, they had to cancel all events as well. “We had a pink out fundraiser, to raise money for a high school cancer victim that was already planned," Ahern said. "We had senior night planned on the field and teacher appreciation night that happens at a home game. We just have a lot of rich traditions in the soccer program at Southern Boone, all of which got canceled within a 24-hour notice.”Abigail Bieghler is a senior and soccer player at Southern Boone High School. She has been on the team for four years and was looking forward to playing on the new field. "As seniors we are upset about it, but we are hoping that track will get done and we can play on it later and hopefully in the postseason," Bieghler said. None of the soccer games are going to be canceled but rather moved to another location. The school district said it's hopeful that completing the track surface project this month rather than during the summer will allow both teams the opportunity to use the new facility toward the end of the spring sports season.But it still raises the question of where the soccer team will practice before the games. Brian Brookshire has a daughter on the team and he wants Southern Boone to take accountability for this issue."Practice is a huge deal, and we no longer have a place to practice," Brookshire said. "They suggested that we go to the baseball field, maybe after baseball games are over. That’s ridiculous because it will be either late at night or early in the morning.”Brookshire and many parents want the district to communicate about the construction of the track surface and hope they can figure out a better resolution for the athletic teams.“I just hope that the school wises up and listens to the community," Brookshire said. "I would encourage them to respond to the emails, respond to all the questions, be very frank and upfront as to what happened with this construction process." The New Bloomfield School District is allowing the track team to practice at its facility twice a week this spring sports season. The track and field team is not scheduled to have any home events this season. </div>

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Southern Boone High School stadium construction impacts athletic teams

ASHLAND — Construction on Southern Boone High School's football stadium and track field begins Friday, leaving parents and students upset about a change in location for some athletic games. Joy Ahern is a parent of a soccer player, and she says this whole process has been disappointing. “We had...

Southern Boone High School stadium construction impacts athletic teams

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