Sylvania Schools has approved a $2.6-million agreement to share athletic facilities at Northview High School with Lourdes University.

The deal with the private university in Sylvania was approved Monday night by the Sylvania Board of Education. The agreement was approved last month by the university’s 30-member board and by the Sisters of St. Francis.

Northview-Lourdes University Athletic Complex entails sharing the upgraded football stadium and a future softball field, both to be located on the public school’s property.

School officials are excited about the arrangement, calling it unique and a benefit to community sports.

“This demonstrates to citizens and voters that the board and members of community are committed to one another to make this a great place, to live, work, and educate your children,” said Stephen Rothschild, Sylvania school board member.

Board member Dave Spiess said, “This is an exciting time for (Northview) Wildcat nation as well as Lourdes Gray Wolves.”

The first game to take place at the upgraded stadium should be in August, he said.

The softball field’s location and time frame to build it has not been determined, but it will be near the stadium.

The university campus recently expanded to include the former Franciscan Academy property, newly christened as the Canticle Center and housing the university’s graduate program, borders Northview’s campus on Silica Drive. The Canticle Center is owned by the Sisters of St. Francis but is being used by Lourdes.

The agreement stipulates that each school, Lourdes and Sylvania, will contribute $1.3 million towards the project. The district’s portion will be raised through its sport-facility fund-raising arm, the parent-run Athletic Foundation which is not taxpayer funded. Lourdes will provide its contribution to the project over five years.

The agreement is valid for 10 years from when the upgrades are completed. Although the agreement does not specify a clause for re-negotiation, Mary Arquette, vice president for institutional advancement at Lourdes, has said there is a strong possibility for re-negotiation after the term expires.

The agreement calls for installation of artificial turf at Northview’s Wildcat Stadium, which now has natural grass. That change allows Lourdes to use the grounds for its lacrosse and soccer teams. Its inaugural soccer team will debut in the fall. Sylvania Schools Superintendent Brad Rieger has said the artificial turf is planned for August installation, meaning, Lourdes’ soccer team could play its first game at the stadium.

The district also voted to contract with Sylvania architect firm Stough & Stough Architects to design the project, and Miller Diversified Construction, in Maumee, as the construction management firm.

 

Source:http://www.toledoblade.com/

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