Oct 5, 2023 / The Stearns Elementary community showed up in force Oct. 4 for the grand opening celebration of a new track on the school’s campus.
About 250 students, parents, and community members walked and ran around the new 200-meter track while the school served free smoothies and popcorn as part of the event. Jo2Go, a coffee cart operated by the district’s transition life skills program, sold specialty drinks.
“Mr. Powell, Mr. Powell! Look how fast I can run,” a young student proclaimed as he joined the group walking around the track. Brandon Powell, a P.E. teacher at Stearns, started fundraising and planning for the track five years ago. He wanted the facility to be ADA accessible so it could be used by students in the district’s special programs. The district’s elementary special programs classes are based at Stearns.
Powell kicked off the celebration surrounded by students, parents, and community members as he took a lap around the track pushing his young son in a stroller.
"I was overwhelmed with emotion seeing so many of our families, community members, and my former students enjoy the new track," he said. "I was motivated to show my students that there is never a dream too big. If you never give up, great things will happen."
The four-lane, 200-meter ADA accessible track has a 25-meter straight away extension, which on Wednesday afternoon featured a high jump pit and a chance to throw a kid-sized, small plastic javelin.
Ground was broken for the track in June and it was ready for students when school started in September. The KCSD Board of Directors allocated federal ESSER money to pay for the project. Other funding included community donations.
The new track replaces a dirt trail that was used for recess running programs and P.E. class. The new facility also is open for the community to use after school hours.
Future plans include adding two long jump pits off the 25-meter straight-away extension.
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