The Ithaca Board of Education has approved a donor-funded project that will not only benefit the district but the other five schools in Gratiot County.

The board is moving forward with a proposal from the donor family, who wish to remain anonymous, and a committee of local citizens that calls for the installation of a new drainage system and artificial playing surface at Ithaca Community Stadium, along with establishment of a Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund for area students.

The donor is footing the entire cost, which is estimated at $1 million for the stadium project alone, according to Ithaca Public Schools Superintendent Steve Netzley.

On top of that the family will also provide $200,000 for the district to open an interest-bearing account to help fund replacement of the artificial turf, likely in about 15 years.

In addition, the donor is forming a nonprofit group that will include representatives from Alma, Ashley, Breckenridge, Ithaca, Fulton and St. Louis schools, to administer the newly established Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund.

“This is awesome,” Netzley said. “This is a great project. We are very thankful to the donor family and committee. This is going to be a win-win for the school and the community.

“We were at the point where we were going to have to sink significant money into the facility to address the (drainage) problems. It was going to cost $300,000 to $400,00 to completely redo everything and install a new grass field.”

Water was draining onto the football field from the service drive, parking lot, a nearby agricultural barn and the berm surrounding the stadium making the field unsafe and unplayable at times.

The project will include tearing out the old infrastructure, installing tile and a new drainage system under the artificial playing surface, Netzley said.

It will also reduce future mowing and maintenance costs, he added.

The new facility will allow the district to host other Michigan High School Athletic Association events and will be available for use by any other school in the county.

“It’s going to be top of the line and it’s in a great location,” Netzley said.

The goal is to begin work as soon as the spring high school sports season is completed in early June and have it finished in August before fall sports begin.

Work will also feature construction of a Patriots Wall of Honor at the stadium to honor local veterans and those who gave their lives fighting for their country.

The committee and donor will present their plan for the Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund to the superintendents of the county’s other five districts on Jan. 5.

“They are making a pretty significant donation to get this started,” Netzley said. “It will be up to each community to raise additional funds and select their scholarship winners each year.”

The amount and number of scholarships awarded annually will be up to each individual district.

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