PRINCETON —  Mercer County Board of Education members were challenged to help fulfill a “big dream” this week during the citizens' input portion of the panel’s regular meeting.

Speaking on behalf of the Glenwood Wildcats football team, Molly Robinette beseeched the Board to consider investing money into improvement and repair of the Glenwood football field, a facility she insisted is unkempt, lacking in modern amenities and not conducive to quality athletics.

“Being a Glenwood Wildcats team mother has not only expanded my horizons, but also expanded my tenacity on the mother line, not only for my son but for the 26 Cubs on this team,” said Robinette, a Princeton Senior High School English teacher. “These kids are committed to a dream. They are committed to cooperation, listening, learning, fellowship and fun. These are kids that we adults could take a lesson from, because they still believe, in their naivety, that all things are possible if you just work hard and believe. So, I come here tonight to put their dream in your hands, because you are the ones who can make it come true.”

Most of the 26 members of the Glenwood School football team sat in the audience as Robinette continued to plead for support on their behalf. In fact, the mother assured she was not only speaking on behalf of her son's football team, but for all Glenwood athletes. The school, she complained, is lacking a weightlifting and athletic training facility and the football field is not easily accessible and without a proper restroom.

“In her welcome-back speech to teachers this year, Dr. Akers (Superintendent Deborah Akers) encouraged us to go beyond what is required,” said Robinette. “She called it the ‘then-some factor.’ I'm here to tell you that not any group of middle school students in the county can compare to these Wildcats in the then-some factor. They constantly have to make chicken salad out of chicken manure, and they do it. As a teacher, I am privileged to teach some Glenwood students and they always stand out as kind and respectful kids. They deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential; you know well that no child is to be left behind.”

Robinette justified her claim that inadequate facilities were inhibiting Glenwood athletes from reaching their potential with statistics showing that of 26 players from a recent championship Wildcat football team, only four remain on the current Princeton Senior High School team.

“They cannot compete without the advantage of former weightlifting and agility training,” she said. “Other schools in the county have that, so when our players get to the high school level without it, they are often simply inept.”

Robinette passionately suggested that the Board consider asking the Mercer County Commission, owners of the land the Glenwood football field is located on, to donate the property to the school district.

“Then whatever steps need to be taken to improve the field could be made, and you could build a field house where my boys can hone their skills year-round,” she said. “I'm asking you to show the Glenwood community, a voting, hard-working lot of people, and show these boys that hard work and determination won't go unnoticed. I'm asking you to show them that there is still honesty and integrity amongst those in power. I'm asking you to go then-some.”

The audience applauded as Robinette stepped tearfully away from the podium, and Board President Greg Prudich responded with some encouragement.

“Of course, we aren't prepared to do anything about this this evening, but this is the time of year that we look at potential projects and discuss them, and we will look at this as we go forward,” he said. “I do think though, that there is a land issue when you talk about building a new field. Also, I would tell you that the legislature loves it when community members come to them and ask for money rather than the Board, so that's an avenue you could look into.”

— Contact CharLy Markwart at cmarkwart@ptonline.net.