Staff photo / Dan Pompili Austintown Schools Superintendent Tim Kelty shows off the progress on the new all-sports training facility behind Austintown Fitch High School. The new 45,000-square-foot facility, which is on track to be finished by fall, will provide training and event space for all the district’s sports teams, youth clubs, and even the marching band.

AUSTINTOWN — School officials welcomed incoming freshmen for orientation Wednesday, and Superintendent Tim Kelty wants those students and the community to know they’re part of something special.

“It’s an exciting time to show our families and students coming in what Fitch is all about,” he said.

Ketly showed off a new all-sports facility that will be ready in the fall, but also touted the standard of academics at the high school.

“We have 29 College Credit Plus courses at the high school — that’s the most of any district in the tri-county area — and we have 21 AP courses,” he said. “We have a brand new state-of-the-art trade and vocational program, with welding, technology courses, so we’re putting all of these kids ahead of the curve.”

Kelty said not only can Fitch graduates leave with enough credit to enter universities like The Ohio State University and West Virginia as sophomores, but trade school graduates can leave with up to three certificates and be job-ready.

The AP courses include microeconomics and macroeconomics, calculus and pre-calculus, art history, art and design, computer science principles, psychology, music theory, and many others.

The College Credit Plus courses include such subjects as British literature, trigonometry, statistics, anatomy and physiology, oceanography, chemistry, sociology, forensics, American Sign Language, and rock and roll history, among others.

The 400 incoming freshmen also will have access to more than 50 clubs, including everything from game groups like “Dungeons and Dragons” to a brand new baking club.

Kelty said the new sports facility also is a testament to the school and district’s academic success.

“It’s a proof point that shows we are invested in success in every aspect, and that the district is building new infrastructure for our future,” he said.

The new 45,000-square-foot facility will mostly be filled with a large astroturf field for all sports teams and clubs — as well as the marching band — to practice and hold events, and also will have locker rooms. The facility also will include simulators for the golf team.

Kelty said the district also has plans to begin fundraising for an addition to the complex, which will include classrooms, administrative offices, a wellness center, and other functions.

Over the past two years, the district has refurbished its sports facilities, including new bleachers and new locker rooms, restrooms, and equipment storage underneath, resurfaced the track and field, and installed an elevator, new press box and handicap seating in the stadium.

He said Austintown is doing well in every way a school district can hope for, including a growing and thriving local population.

“We’re well-rounded, and locally we’re stabilizing,” he said. “This will be the second straight year I’ve reduced open enrollment because we have a healthy and growing population here in Austintown.”

Kelty said he reduced kindergarten open enrollment last year to 24 students, and will bring it down to 20 this year.