Summer of changes at New Lexington

NEW LEXINGTON - New Lexington City Schools underwent some changes this summer, including renovations to the football stadium and a new high school principal. 

When Chuck Byers accepted the principal job, he took on a post that would allow him to work in the community he loves.  

Byers has been an administrator for about 30 years, and he began his education career as a industrial arts teacher and has served as a principal at Miller High School, Berne Union High School and Pickerington Junior High School. Byers graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in industrial technology, and he earned his master's in educational administration from the University of Dayton. 

"I am so excited to be the New Lexington High School principal," Byers said. "New Lexington High School has a fantastic teaching staff, and the students are the best I have ever worked with. I truly love working at New Lexington High School."

The high school also is offering a different approach to traditional classroom learning this school year. 

The New Lexington eAcademy is designed to provide a challenging and flexible learning environment for students with diverse needs and backgrounds. Byers said the program is an alternative to the traditional school day, and it uses a curriculum aligned with standards set by the Ohio Department of Education that allows students to work at their own pace while obtaining graduation credits. 

Several areas of Jim Rockwell Stadium received improvements, including new home and visitor bleachers, lighting upgrades and a new scoreboard with a 42-foot video screen. The concession areas and restrooms were renovated, and plans are in place for a courtyard on the hill above the north end of the field.

The new bleachers include seating for people with disabilities at the top of the home bleachers and at the base of the visitor bleachers. Both were areas that the school deemed as safety concerns, which helped trigger the project.

The improvements were district-funded, but private donations from the community paid for the new scoreboard and video board, Superintendent Casey Coffey said.

"The new field and stadium will not just be used for athletic events. It will be a community field and can enhance community development," Coffey said. "We are thrilled about about the prospect of a community stadium that meets the needs of school district and provides numerous opportunities to our community." 

hkull@gannett.com

740-450-6772

Twitter: @haydenkull5

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The Times Recorder's annual high school football preview section can be found in Thursday's paper.