Work is under way on renovations to the Roger High School track and field.

A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony, featuring speeches by incoming Student Body President Logan Krehbiel, School Board Director Dane Looker, and Principal John Bustad, officially launched the project on June 2.

Rogers High School students and coaches, as well as school and district leadership, gathered on the field against a backdrop of blue and white balloons and cheered as the first shovels of dirt were turned.

Krehbiel, Looker, and Bustad used ceremonial gold-painted shovels to mark the beginning of construction along with Superintendent Tim Yeomans, Specialized Landscaping, Inc. owner Mike Piland, and Chief Academic Officer of Regional Learning Community #2 Deka Smith.

“We have been waiting a long time for this,” Krehbiel said. “It’s going to be an excellent addition to the school … It’s a great day to be a Rogers Ram.”

The school board agreed last month to renovate the Rogers High track and field by adding artificial turf and other improvements to provide students and the community with quality practice and game surfaces.

The newly renovated track and field will be used by Rogers High School students for P.E. classes, as well as for junior varsity and varsity girls soccer practices and games, junior varsity football games, and varsity football practices.

When not in use by district schools, the track and field will be open to the community, said Rick Wells, director of athletics, health, and fitness. The field will have markings suitable for football, soccer, and lacrosse.

The new turf is designed to be used year-round and will have a drain system installed. A large two-toned blue “R” will be painted on the center of the field.

The field is expected to ready for the start of football practice in mid-August. Completion of the project is expected in early September.

Read more about the project in the August issue of the district’s Connections newspaper.