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LIBERTY TWP. — The Lakota Local School District will be getting new turf for its football fields.

The district's board of education approved a 10-year contract Monday, Nov. 17, with the Atrium Medical Center in Middletown for marketing rights at athletic facilities.

The agreement will last 10 years with the option of a renewal up to 19 years. The funds will go primarily toward artificial turf on the football fields as well as drainage repairs and maintenance. They also may be used for building, repairing, enlarging or improving school athletic facilities.

"I think it is going to be a really neat partnership that's going to enable us to actively engage so many more kids on virtually a year-round basis," said Athletic Director Stu Eversole.

While $20,000 of the budget will go toward Atrium signs for the home and away stands, in the locker rooms and on the scoreboard, the rest of the $117,000 this year and $48,500 each year following will go toward building and maintaining the football fields.

In addition to rental fees for the fields and Atrium funds, a committee has been established to raise $20,000 a year to pay back the bonds that will be issued for the project.

The Friends Interested in Enhancing Lakota District Stadiums will be fundraising in the community, seeking individual and business donors to make up the difference in cost for the fields. The turf typically lasts 12 years and will cost the district $600,000 per field, officials said. Drainage costs are expected to be $400,000 total.

Under the agreement, no other similar health care provider may promote itself with the district; however, Lakota will be allowed to continue its relationship with Children's Hospital.

The school district will provide a link to the Atrium's Web site from its own site, and must make reasonable efforts to advertise Atrium during radio and television broadcasts and other outlets. Atrium will be permitted to hold community health screenings on Lakota campuses or at athletic games, and it will give consideration to Atrium as a primary health care provider for prevention, wellness and health education activities for Lakota administrators, faculty, employees and students; however it will not prohibit people from seeking services elsewhere.

"We're pleased to expand our relationship with the Lakota Local Schools," stated Douglas W. McNeill, president and CEO of Atrium, who added that the agreement is an extension of a contract that provides free sports trainers and other resources to Lakota's athletic department.