The home-side bleachers should be finished in time for graduation on June 22
Middle Township High School’s bleachers, lights and press box are being replaced through a lease-purchase agreement.
Cape May Court House, N.J. – At last year’s Middle Township High School graduation, guests sat in rented chairs because some of the aging, unsafe stadium bleachers had been condemned.
But those celebrating the Class of 2026 should be back to the bleachers.
Construction on the stadium is underway, and bleachers and lights are on target for completion by the high school’s June 22 graduation, said Middle Township Public Schools Superintendent Stephanie DeRose.
The district originally attempted to fund replacement of the stadium lights, home-side bleachers and press box as part of a 2024 bond referendum. Less than a year after the referendum was defeated, the lights were removed and the bleachers became unusable because of safety concerns.
“Upon starting as superintendent, I quickly recognized that there would be many challenges requiring immediate attention, and the condition of our stadium was one of them,” DeRose said. “Our students deserve facilities that reflect the pride, dedication, and talent they bring to our school district every single day.”
Last fall, MTPS entered a five-year lease-purchase agreement at a cost of $1.28 million to complete the project. The press box – the final piece of the project – will be ready for football season.
The lack of reliable facilities created challenges for students and spectators throughout the 2025-2026 school year:
- Reduced seating capacity
- MTHS limited the number of home games and moved some games to daytime hours because of the lack of permanent field lighting
- Generator-powered lighting systems were rented for evening events, but were noisy and provided inadequate lighting coverage for players, marching band members and cheerleaders
DeRose said while the improvements are being made for functional reasons, they also are important to show support for Middle Township’s athletic programs and marching band – and the Class of 2026.
“Having these projects completed in time for graduation was especially meaningful to me because it allows the Class of 2026 families to celebrate this milestone together in our home stands. That sense of community pride and belonging is incredibly important,” DeRose said. “My hope is that these improvements will boost school spirit, strengthen community engagement, and motivate even greater participation in athletics, the arts and student activities for years to come.”