St. Clairsville school leaders said students in the district make the grade each year, but their athletic facilities just don't cut it anymore.

In response, the district is embarking on a project to completely renovate its athletic facilities.

Organizers said they want to renovate the stadium completely through private donations. The first phase of the project is expected to cost $1 million.

Organizers want to replace the grass surface at the football stadium with artificial turf and build and all-weather track.

Superintendent Walt Skaggs said that in a district that prides itself on a tradition of excellence, the facilities should be proper and up-to-date.

The Red Devils call their stadium their "largest classroom," and both students and residents stand to benefit from improvements, Skaggs said.

"I think it's about the entire community. It's going to be a facility that people can come and walk around the track in the evenings and so forth and we can have activities on the field," Skaggs said.

The district also recently installed a new security system at the St. Clairsville campus. Cameras are now in place at the field house and keyless entry was added. The district is now working on a new after-hours system that would require people to be buzzed into the school building.

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