Area archers will soon have a new distance range at Athens High School.

Athens school board member agreed Thursday to lease a piece of school property to the city for 25 years. Together with the city’s property, the Archery Trade Association will design and create an archery range and pay to replace targets as needed. The city agreed Monday to maintain the facility.

The range will be located behind the Athens High School gymnasium, on the path opposite and traveling away from the walking trail.

The opening date for the range has not been set.

Earlier this year, Stuart Goldsby of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Chamber of Commerce President Hugh Ball asked the board to allow creation of a public archery range on school property.

“I assure you it would be safe,” Goldsby told board members.

The range will be a “distance range,” where all archers line up on the same line and shoot at targets positioned at different distances. A cart path will be installed to allow easy access for archers with disabilities.

The ATA agreed to build the range because some of its members own archery pro shops and hope to make money selling equipment and supplies. That, in turn, will help the Conservation Department because sales tax generated by archery sales helps wildlife management programs.

At Thursday’s meeting, board member Larry Keenum asked if the schools could get out of the 25-year lease if the property was needed for a school building. Board attorney Shane Black said that would be possible.

Board President Richard Brown had asked earlier this year if the schools would be liable for injuries at the range.

Black confirmed Thursday that because the school property will be dedicated for recreational purposes, the schools will be “held harmless” for any accidents under the same state law that protects the Conservation Department when it dedicates land for recreation.

Board members did not agree to implement an archery program in the schools. That would involve more research and discussion.

Also Thursday, board members took the following action:

• Certified pay for Jennifer Dye, who is the substitute for Kristie Murphree at Brookhill Elementary.

• Agreed to transfer Cynthia Sharp from special education aide to office aide at Cowart Elementary.

• Approved maternity leave for Elizabeth Anderson at Athens High.

• Agreed to hire Casie Barksdale to substitute for Elizabeth Anderson at Athens High.

• Accepted a letter of retirement from Martha Wheeler at Athens High.

• Agreed to hire Angela McKenzie as a kindergarten teacher at Athens Elementary.

• Approved sick leave committee members Ron Oakley, Randy Murphy, Susan Nelson, Vickie Carr and Debra Porter.

• Agreed to reinstate 51/2 days of sick leave for Patricia Collins for an on-the-job injury.