Updated Turf Information

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Earlier this year, members of our school community approached the
Board of Education expressing an interest to have turf fields
installed at our two high schools. This group, working within a
committee structure that also included members of the Board of
Education and administration, the district’s architect, and
construction manager, developed a scope of work and related budget.
This work has led to Board authorization of Proposition #2.

What improvements are included in Proposition Two?
- Synthetic turf fields, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts, and
soccer goals at John Jay and Roy C. Ketcham High Schools.
- Community friendly, low-glare lights at Roy C. Ketcham High
School’s turf field.
- Boiler system replacements and drain upgrades at John Jay High
School.
- Replacement of steam traps, upgrade of drain system, and tunnel
asbestos abatement at Roy C. Ketcham.

What research has been done by the District on turf fields?
- The new generation of polyethylene fiber, rubber in-filled systems
that the District is proposing to install has undergone countless
tests by independent contractors as well as the New England Journal of
Medicine, Penn State, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior
Services, UMASS, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections,
as well as by numerous other reputable educational sources. These
agencies have rendered no negative findings with respect to toxicity,
lead, MRSA or increased injuries.

What are the benefits to the District and to the community?
- To provide additional teaching stations in the spring and fall for
Physical Education classes.
- To deliver more consistent and playable field conditions for all
athletes.
- To enable spring sports athletes to move out of the gyms and
parking lots at the start of the spring season.
- To provide our athletes playable fields in all weather
- There are 27 District high School outdoor sports teams and 12
District modified teams outdoor sports teams that can use the turf
fields.
- The District fields support programs from three towns, (East
Fishkill, Fishkill and Wappinger). These towns field hundreds of teams
representing thousands of children, who would have access to these
turf fields

What is the itemized cost of Proposition Two
- Turf fields: $3,714,440
- Building Reconstruction: $1,849,032
- Total: $5,563,472
- Approved construction costs are eligible for State building aid of
58.3%.
- The project will be funded via issuance of 15-year bonds to coincide
with the receipt of State aid.
-The total increase is less than 1/10 of a percent of the 2007-2008
levy.

Why is the District including building reconstruction at the two high
schools with turf fields?
In order to be eligible for the anticipated 58.3% in state aid, each
field must be tied to a building project in the school which meets the
following criteria:
- Project must be inside the building.
- Project must be over $10,000.
- Project must be part of the District’s Five-Year Plan
- Project should address a health and safety issue or ADA
compliance.

If the building reconstruction project only has to be a minimum of
$10,000 at each high school, why has the district chosen projects that
total $1.8 million?
Important health and safety projects within the District’s Five-Year
Plan are strongly preferred by The New York State Education
Department, especially when coupled with artificial turf fields. The
projects selected must be important and significant health and safety
projects.

Will there be any maintenance savings to the District because of the
turf fields?
Yes, the cost to maintain a natural grass field per week is
approximately $210. The cost to maintain a synthetic field per week is
approximately $45


How much maintenance do these fields require?
Fields need to be groomed every 3-4 weeks on average.

How long will this turf last?
- The top layer of turf, or carpet, lasts approximately 15 years.
- The cost for the carpet is about 25% of the total project cost.
- Children who enter kindergarten in 2013 could have the opportunity
to use these proposed fields.

When will the turf fields be ready?
- The anticipated completion date is fall, 2009

What, additional revenue sources, if any, may help the District in
maintaining the Turf fields?
- Field and light usage fees will be charged to outside agencies.
- A Town of East Fishkill grant writer will explore recreation and
shared municipalities grants.
- We will continue to partner with the towns to explore other revenue
sources.
- Revenues will be used to offset field maintenance expenses,
including future carpet replacement.
- We will continue to pursue corporate, business and foundation
grants.

Are there many schools in the area that have switched to Turf fields?
- The se Area Schools with Recently Installed Turf Fields:
Arlington High School (3 Fields); Carmel High School; Columbia
University; Dietz Stadium (Kingston); Fordham University; Harrison
High School; Lakeland High School; Manhattan College; Marist College;
New Rochelle High School; Ossining High School; Siena College; Somers
High School (2 Fields); SUNY New Paltz; Tuckahoe MS/HS; USMA; Walter
Panas High School; White Plains High School;