Boonesboro community presses school board for stadium upgrades, turf and memorial for longtime coach

Dozens of Boonesboro High School parents, student athletes, boosters and community members used the Feb. 18 public comment period to press the Washington County Public Schools board to allow work on the community'driven "Coach's Dream" stadium project and to approve an associated letter of intent so fundraising can begin.

Speakers described recurring safety and scheduling problems at the Boonesboro campus: practice and game conflicts caused when the baseball field sits within the footprint of the stadium, no drainage on the stadium field, and a sloped field that funnels water to adjacent areas. Cheerleaders and band members said limited, unsafe sideline space and a drainage ditch prevent them from performing and create injury risks.

Key appeals and community details

Julie Hartman, co-president of the Boonsboro Athletic Boosters, asked the board to approve a letter of intent and memorandum of understanding with the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation so the boosters can begin fundraising. She detailed safety problems for cheerleaders who currently perform from a drainage ditch and called for turf to allow simultaneous use and more consistent practice schedules.

Student speakers described game-day conditions and the competitive disadvantage caused by uneven, poorly drained grass fields. Several current and former coaches, alumni and community volunteers urged the board to permit the boosters and community partners to move forward with the plan.

Artist and sculptor Toby Mendez said a commemorative sculpture of Coach Dwight Scott is part of the project conversations and offered to present a professional plan for the memorial; he said the memorial would not be a traditional memorial (no birth/death dates) but a tribute to mentorship and community.

Why it matters

Speakers argued upgrades would improve safety, expand practice space, allow youth teams greater access to campus fields, enable hosting of events such as marching band competitions and reduce long-term maintenance costs tied to heavy overuse of natural grass. Several speakers also emphasized the project's role in preserving Coach Dwight Scott's legacy to the Boonsboro community.

Board response and next steps

Members did not vote on the stadium project during the meeting; the public comment record indicates strong community support and active fundraising interest. Board members asked for additional details and encouraged petitioners to continue outreach; staff and board members indicated procurement and capital planning steps would need to follow board direction and county approval when a formal request is submitted.

Ending

Community organizers urged a prompt letter of intent and memorandum of understanding so fundraising could begin; sculptor and community leaders offered to present more technical plans and to partner on long-term maintenance funding.