The Lenape Regional School District Board of Education has approved a resolution to withdraw more than $1 million to fund a premature replacement of the artificial turf fields at Cherokee and Shawnee high schools.
LRHSD set aside $242,434.36 in its capital budget and is using the balance of a Maintenance Reserve Account, which is used within the district to implement required maintenance of the school district’s facilities, in the amount of $779,990.64 to replace the fields. In addition, the district is seeking donations from outside groups that use the fields.
According to the district, the fields have been regularly maintained in accordance with the guidelines issued by the manufacturer and have been tested yearly. However, as a result of a recent inspection by the district, which revealed the fields were unplayable, the district sought the help of professionals.
Engineering and testing consultants performed various tests and analyses, finding the surface no longer meets the standard for a normal playable field, and both fields were not correctly designed and manufactured from the start, arriving to the conclusion that they need to be replaced prematurely. A document on the evaluation, located on the district website, stated that the “product is severely damaged” and that the “degree of fiber splitting is extraordinary.”
The synthetic fields, received as donations from community groups and local businesses, were installed approximately 10 years ago as multi-purpose fields, and are primarily used for high school athletic events, including football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, band and physical education classes. They also host community athletic events and celebrations, according to the district’s letter on its website.
The exact cost of replacing the fields is $1,022,426.00. To save on the costs associated with this project, the district previously explored various options available to purchase the materials and services required to complete this project, including participating in the New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing program.
“This program generally results in lower costs in projects of this type by utilizing the leverage of the state’s purchasing power to achieve the best pricing through volume driven cost savings, and it did in this case,” stated an email that included both Superintendent Carol Birnbohm and Business Administrator Constance Stewart.
In addition, the district is also exploring whether there is any recourse against the manufacturer of the fields for their premature failure.
Replacement of the fields will begin after graduation this June, according to the district, and will be completed before the start of the upcoming school year for activities such as fall sports, band and physical education classes.
In the meantime, arrangements have been made to host certain spring sports for Shawnee and Cherokee high schools on grass fields or at alternate venues. Track and field will not be disrupted by the turf closure. The fields will continue to be used for non-athletic events up until construction begins, including graduation ceremonies.
