School district, JBU partner to renovate track

JBU launches an NAIA Intercollegiate men’s and women’s track and field program

School board members approved a partnership with John Brown University at Thursday's meeting to resurface and renovate the track and field facilities at Siloam Springs Middle School.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the university agreed to pay for half of the renovation costs up to $400,000 in exchange for shared use of the facility. Upon approval of the partnership, JBU announced it will launch an NAIA intercollegiate men's and women's track and field program beginning in the fall of 2019.

Renovations to Glenn W. Black Stadium will include rebuilding the track sub-surface and installing a higher quality running surface, according to a press release from the university. The interior ends of the track will also be made more functional for field events and a steeple chase pit will be added. School district staff will complete additional work, including removing the west stands and renovating the public restrooms in the east stands.

The agreement enables JBU to use the track for 12 years or until the track needs resurfacing, whichever is longer, the release states. At that time the partnership can be renewed for another 12 years, with each school covering half the cost.

Assistant superintendent Jody Wiggins noted that the current track surface has lasted nearly 20 years, although the official life-span is 12 years. Wiggins said the district does not know the total cost of the renovations but hopes to have an estimate by the November school board meeting. He also said he hopes to present a civil engineering contract for approval a that time.

Superintendent Ken Ramey said the partnership will allow the two schools to have a facility that neither could afford independently and called the agreement a "win-win" for the school district and the university.

"We are excited to partner with John Brown University to rebuild our track into a modern and safe facility, an endeavor that neither of us could undertake without this partnership," he said. "In the future, with our excellent coaches and student athletes, we can host 5A Conference, State and Meet of Champions events.

"Last year, we had 152 total students participating in track grades 7 through 12. We sincerely appreciate the relationship and partnerships we have with John Brown University. The shared use of the track and field facilities will certainly benefit students from seventh grade through their college years."

The track facility is only a half mile from the university, and SSSD athletic director Kevin Downing and JBU athletic director Robyn Daugherty will work out schedules for use of the track, Wiggins said.

"We are deeply grateful to Siloam Springs School District for allowing us to enter into this partnership with them," said JBU President Chip Pollard. "This new track will be a great asset to SSSD, JBU and the community of Siloam Springs, and it is another example of how public and private institutions can work together for common good. It is part of JBU's mission to be a good neighbor and we see this partnership to renovate the track as another example of our commitment and our gratitude for being a part of Siloam Springs."

This is not the first time that JBU has offered a track and field program. The nearly 100-year-old university had an intercollegiate track and field team from 1959 to 1989, the press release states.

JBU will begin recruiting for the new program immediately and hopes to recruit 15 new students for fall of 2019, the release states. The 28 members of the men's and women's cross country team will be able to compete in both sports, and Daugherty said the university hopes to have a combined total of 60 students in the two programs by fall 2021.

The new program will be under the direction of Coach Scott Schochler, who has led JBU's cross country team since 2013, the release states. Schochler coached 2017 graduate Annie Brown to a spot in the 2015 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships marathon and helped senior Josh Uzelac make appearances in three consecutive NAIA National Championships.

"I am extremely excited and grateful to have the opportunity to bring track and field back to JBU and contribute to its legacy," Schochler said. "I expect to be competitive from the start because of the ability JBU gives us to draw high-quality student athletes, and thanks to the foundation and culture that has been built by our cross country family of athletes. It is a great time to be a JBU Golden Eagle."

General News on 10/14/2018