Cheers and referees’ whistles will be heard on the playing fields of Porterdale Elementary School in the coming weeks.The Newton County Board of Education has agreed to allow a USA Football-certified league to use the school’s facilities.

The BOE voted at its Tuesday work session to allow NewRock Youth Faootball and Cheerleading to continue using the fields, at the recommendation of Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey.

NewRock will use Porterdale’s ball fields Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons through November. The contract is for 45 days at $50 per day, with a total of $2,250 to be paid to the school system.

NewRock is a USA Football-certified league in which all coaches go through a training certification process. It serves children ages 4-12 who are players and cheerleaders.

NewRock president Britt Jacobs said the youth league will use the fields for football and cheerleading practices. He said a portable toilet will be provided at the facilities, and the league carries its own liability insurance that would protect Porterdale, the school system and any owner of spaces utilized.

In a letter requesting use of the facilities, Jacobs said the 6-year-old NewRock program previously used Porterdale Elementary’s fields during its first two years.

However, he said the league was told by the Newton County Recreation Department that it wasn’t allowed to use the space because it was county property that was “earmarked for use” by the recreation department. He said New Rock moved its practices to Conyers, which he said was “tax-money the county was losing” from the parents who lived in Newton County.

Jacobs said New Rock now understands that the space is community property, and would like to practice back in Newton County.