Group to raise stadium funds

The group wants to begin the project in June.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- A group called Cardinal Nest Builders is planning a $2 million Renovate the Roost project for the high school stadium and ball fields.
The group plans to fund the renovations entirely through donations. Mark Sabol, vice president of fund raising for the group, says the project is getting under way in earnest now.
The group had its first official meeting in January, and Sabol came to the school board this week to ask for permission to sell seat endowments at $200 apiece for new aluminum bleacher seats. If 5,000 endowments are sold, Sabol said, it would mean $1 million toward the group's goal.
The school board granted permission to sell the endowments and also to give two football passes to donors of $50,000 or more. Names of donors who buy endowments will be on small brass tags riveted to the front of the seats, Sabol said.
Three phases
Sabol said the renovation project will be in three phases. The first includes the stadium with new and added seating, access for disabled people, a bandstand, and artificial turf on the field.
In the second phase, locker rooms, a training room, weight room and wrestling room will get updates. In the last phase, the baseball and softball fields will be renovated.
The group plans on beginning the project in June. It should be complete in 18 months to two years.
Sabol said the group already has verbal pledges of about $500,000.
He said it is not unusual in Canfield for parent groups to volunteer to raise funds for the schools.
"The way schools are funded in Ohio is unfortunate, and booster clubs support the programs," he said. "Our parents are involved in the lives of our children."
starmack@vindy.com