Fourth-grade students from Wellsville-Middletown Elementary presented a proposal to the W-M R-I School Board to have a multi-purpose, grass athletic field built at the school’s campus.

Gabbie Bryson, Abbi Carlisle, Franklin Hovanessian, Brock Nelson and Everett Sommer were the students who made the two-minute presentation at the school board meeting on Oct. 8. They explained why the field is needed at the school and how it would be beneficial to the Wellsville community.

“We called this a multi-purpose yield because it isn’t just for one sport, and it isn’t just for us,” Franklin said. “A flat grass field can be used for elementary PE classes, high school practice, field days and community youth sports. Since our town is small, this field could also be a place where families can walk in the evenings or gather for community events. It will bring our town closer together and build school pride.”

The students came with a plan to find grants that would help construct the field, such as the NFL Grassroots Program.

“We know that budgets are tight in a small school,” Gabbie said. “That’s why we aren’t asking for an expensive stadium or artificial turf. We just want a flat, leveled piece of grass with painted lines.”

W-M fourth-grade teacher Jenny List said her class was pretty excited when it decided to start the football field campaign.

“Their eyes lit up and before I knew it they were talking about how they could make it happen,” she said. “What started as a simple example turned into students developing ideas, creating committees and dreaming big. They even asked our principal (Kevin Oligschlaeger) his thoughts and whether they could present their ideas to the school board and he told them yes.”

List said even though bringing a football field to the school could be a challenge, it didn’t discourage her students to come up with ideas of making it happen.

“They’re so excited about their ideas that they even asked to earn extra time during class to work on their committees once their classwork has been completed and reviewed,” she said. “Almost daily, they do that.”