At Monday evening's Jim Thorpe school board meeting, questions were raised about the high school stadium renovation project. A member of the public, John Partenio, asked for some clarifications about the project and how it affects the football team's practice and the stadium overall.

The stadium renovation will include work being done on the drainage and irrigation systems, as well as the current turf being moved and new turf being put on the field.Partenio was concerned about how the track will be affected when the old turf is moved to the practice field. The board stated that the track will not be torn up but a bridge will be placed over the track for trucks to go over.Partenio also asked questions about when the project is to start and how it will affect the football team's practice.The football team normally uses the practice field but they will use the field at the L.B. Morris Elementary School."They (the football team) won't be on the practice field once things start," stated Superintendent Barbara Conway.The football team will be playing their home games at the Panther Valley stadium this season.In regards to the start of the project Conway stated, "We hope there will be mobilization soon."The project is mostly being funded by a grant from the Department of Community and Economic Growth (DCED). Any cost that exceeds the grant money will come from a recently refinanced bond. The bond is to be used for capital improvements only.According to Conway there will be a meeting between the architect, the contractor, and others to discuss more of the logistics of the project. The information discussed at this meeting will be reported on at the next school board meeting.