Jim Thorpe School Board agreed to take out a $1.74 million loan from Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank to finance the stadium upgrade project, after the same motion failed at a meeting last week. The loan is for 12 years and the interest rate is 1.78%.

Board President Gerald Strubinger voted against the loan.

He said the district has enough money in its general fund to finance the project without interest.

The board has been pushing to upgrade Olympian Stadium to artificial turf so more sports can use it. The field has been plagued with drainage issues for many years.

Lehigh Valley Health Network would provide a financial donation, athletic training and other medical services in exchange for advertising rights at the stadium.

The contract wouldn’t take effect until 2022, when the district’s contract with its current athletic trainer, St. Luke’s University Health Network, expires.