Homestead High's New Mustang Field Debuts

The school that graduated Steve Jobs welcomes a new Mustang Field at Homestead High School tonight, Friday, Oct. 7, at 7:00.

The varsity game, which starts at 7:30 p.m., is preceded by a short formal program that includes the 250-member marching band that is the only western U.S. band selected for performance for the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

“For the first time in the school’s history, home football games can now be played at home,” said Graham Clark, principal of Homestead High.

“More than that, it’s an exciting milestone in the transformative change taking place on the Homestead High campus,” he said. “Outstanding facilities such as these tend to have a transformational effect on students and staff, and they can be a tremendous source of pride for the community.”

The new landscaped entry plaza, ticket booth and concession stand accompany a synthetic-turf football/multiuse field and an 8-lane, 400-meter all-weather track with infield space for long jump, discus and shot put practice and competition.

“With over one in three district students participating in athletics and marching bands annually, and all students taking two years of P.E., we view our fields as classrooms,” said Polly Bove, district superintendent.  “The lessons students learn on these fields are an important addition to what they learn in their academic classes.  They provide another wonderful venue for our students to excel.”

It’s all part of a two-year, two-phase multiuse outdoor facility project at the school that started with the field construction project in June 2010 and funded by the Fremont Union High School District’s $198 million Measure B Bond, which was passed by voters in 2008.

Laws stipulate that the money can only be used for “building improvements, construction, and equipment purchases and not for salaries or other operational costs,” according to the district.