Turf Talk Today’s Hot Topic
The Sag Harbor School District’s PTA and Parent Teacher Student Association will hold a community forum today on the artificial turf field issue, but the school district has also planned a forum of its own, set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the elementary school gym.
Residents in the Sag Harbor School District will head to the polls on Dec. 14 to vote on a proposition to allow the district to use an additional $365,000 from its capital reserve fund to install an artificial turf field on school property. Voters initially approved the project in 2013 with a successful bond referendum in the amount of $1.62 million, but the design and approval process took more than two years, the projected costs rose, and bids came in over budget. The district’s architects have since scaled down the project, but school officials have said additional money is still needed, and turning to the capital reserve fund requires approval from the community.
In the time since the initial vote, a growing number of parents and community members began to question the possible health risks of such a field and its impact on the environment. Support ers say it will give the district more options for sports, gym classes, and recreation, and result in savings on upkeep.
While the PTA and P.T.S.A. event will feature presentations by school officials and an outside environmental expert, the school district-sponsored event will offer information from school officials only, and there will be an opportunity for community members to weigh in with their opinions.
“Primarily, the goal is to educate the public about what will be on the ballot, as well as next steps if the proposition passes, and, alternatively, next steps if the proposition fails,” said Diana Kolhoff, the school board president. “A second goal is to offer a platform for community members to voice their opinions on the issue and the opportunity to hear others’ perspectives as well. The last side benefit of the forum is simply to raise awareness about the vote in an effort to increase community involvement and voter turnout.”
The district will hold a voter registration day on Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Absentee ballots are available as well.