<\/p>\n

Dec 21\u2014ORWIGSBURG \u2014 The Blue Mountain school board cleared the way Tuesday night for installation of artificial turf on two district athletic fields.<\/p>\n

The board voted 6-2 during its meeting in favor of a resolution to convert the fields from natural grass to artificial turf.<\/p>\n

School directors David W. Lafko and Rosanne Zelusky dissented. dr Timothy G. Grube, vice president, was absent.<\/p>\n

The two fields are the football\/soccer field and the baseball field, both at the high school.<\/p>\n

Much of the lengthy discussion of the issue centered on cost.<\/p>\n

Board member Roy A. Heim indicated that the cost would be about $3 million, about 45% of which can be raised from private donors.<\/p>\n

District residents, he said, have indicated they would donate $750,000 toward the cost of artificial turn on the football\/soccer field and $700,000 for the baseball field.<\/p>\n

Becky Hoover, a parent of a Blue Mountain student, told the board she had contacted eight people, who will donate a total of $750,000.<\/p>\n

“I know there’s more money out there,” she told the board. “I need you to back me. I can make this project fly.”<\/p>\n

Hoover believes there are plenty of donors who would contribute from $20 to $1,000 toward the project.<\/p>\n

Even with private donations, Zelinsky questioned the advisability of spending funds on artificial turf.<\/p>\n

“Where is the balance going to come from,” she asked, referring to the district’s approximately $1.6 million share. “I don’t feel the district can support that much money.”<\/p>\n

Heim estimated that installing artificial turf would cut maintenance costs by about $100,000 a year. Over 12 years, the estimated life of artificial turf, the district would save $1.2 million, he said.<\/p>\n

Lafko, who chairs the facilities committee, was skeptical about the estimated savings and raised questions about the replacement cost when the turf’s lifespan expires.<\/p>\n

“I don’t want to burden taxpayers with future debt that we might not be able to afford,” he said.<\/p>\n

Story continues<\/p>\n

While approving the installation of turf, the board did not award a contract for the work.<\/p>\n

Douglas Morgan, athletic director, said the district has received three bids for the project. There was no indication when the board would act on the bids.<\/p>\n

In a presentation to the board, Morgan said the natural grass turf on the football\/soccer field is deteriorating.<\/p>\n

After rain, it often turns to mud, and the field’s condition restricts its use to only three or four events a week, he said.<\/p>\n

“On eight occasions last year, athletic officials raised concerns about the safety of the field,” he said. “Frankly, it was quite embarrassing.”<\/p>\n

Tom Gallagner, head football coach, said this past season an opponent’s coach raised concerns about sprinkler heads protruding from the field.<\/p>\n

“There was a brief discussion about canceling the game,” he said.<\/p>\n

Gallagher and other coaches argued that playing on artificial turf is safer for athletes.<\/p>\n

His research indicated there are 44% fewer concussions, 25% fewer long-term injuries and 16% fewer short-term injuries on artificial turf.<\/p>\n

Board member Anne Usuka insisted on having peer-reviewed studies that show there are fewer injuries on artificial turf. Cursory research on the internet, she said, indicated concern about injuries on artificial turf.<\/p>\n

Morgan pointed out that, particularly in the morning, the dew-covered field is too moist to accommodate physical education classes. The classes are held on a macadam lot, Morgan said.<\/p>\n

The condition of the football\/soccer field is such, he said, that only three or four events a week can be scheduled there. With artificial turf, he said, there would be no limit to the number of events.<\/p>\n

Heim, who was initially opposed to artificial turf, said installing it would allow Blue Mountain to host district playoffs and state athletic events.<\/p>\n

Coaches noted that District 11 requires all playoffs to be played on artificial turf.<\/p>\n

One of the advantages Heim liked most is that artificial turf would enable the fields to be used by youth athletic teams on Sundays.<\/p>\n

“We’ve put a lot of thought into it,” Heim said, “and I’m looking at it as a return on investment.”<\/p>\n

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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