[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="50628,50629"] By Taylor Boyd The School Board voted 5-0 to name the Patrick County High School’s new Fieldhouse the Martin F. “Fill” Clark Fieldhouse at the Mar. 11 meeting. “This facility will provide our baseball and softball teams a place to practice when the weather conditions do not allow for outdoor activity,” Schools Superintendent Dean Gilbert said at a March 9 dedication ceremony for the fieldhouse. “Our athletics can now stay on campus instead of travel to locations offsite. Patrick County High School has a tradition of fielding very competitive softball and baseball teams. The construction of this facility will only aid in maintaining this tradition,” Gilbert said. Retired judge Martin Clark Jr. said “My dad loved Patrick County and he loved baseball, so it’s a good fit. We are grateful to everybody, it took a lot of heavy lifting and all sorts of people to make it happen so we are grateful too.” Walter Scott, vice-chairman and of the Smith River District, said a lot of work went into the completion of this building. “A lot of people stepped up in the middle of this crisis, COVID, and they stepped up to get the job done, and I’d like to thank everyone who did that.” Trey Cox, Principal of Patrick County High School, said this ceremony is “the culmination of several years of work” due to generosity of the Martin F. Clark Foundation, and partnerships with the school division and many community volunteers. “We are so proud to have been able to partner with so many community groups and businesses to make this facility possible,” he said. Cox said the facility will help the high school’s sports program provide essential healthy activities, help foster friendships, and teach valuable life lessons to student athletes. “The lack of adequate hitting facilities in the county, the increasing numbers of sports and participates, and the fact that Patrick County High School is a land-locked community, and also the effect of weather on our fields,” made the project a high priority for the athletics department, he added. Patrick County Athletic Director Terry Harris said the experience to bring the fieldhouse to reality was amazing. “Having coached myself for over 20 years having a facility like this for all of our coaches and for the many athletics today and to come in the future is just an amazing facility for them to be able to use,” he said. In other matters at its meeting, the school board: *Awarded County Administrator Geri Hazelwood the Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) 2021 Employer Accommodation Program Award. *Awarded the National Breakfast Week No Kid Hungry Award to Darlene Rogers, Food Services Director. *Approved changes to Patrick County Elementary Schools handbook. *Approved changes to Patrick County High School’s handbook. *Approved the out of district forms. *Approved the food services procurement policy. *Approved the personnel reports as amended.
