President Malone opened discussion of the City High outdoor field recommendation after staff circulated a survey of soccer families and other users. Superintendent Matt Degner and Chief Operating Officer Kurt Pratt said the district’s data and site constraints led staff to recommend replacing the existing artificial turf in its current location rather than moving the field.

The memo attached to the agenda reported a roughly 47% preference for artificial turf, 42% for natural grass and 11% with no preference. Pratt told the board the current site faces drainage issues, heavy multi-user wear and a water main constraint that would make shifting a grass field or reorienting Bates Field costly or impractical. He said the district explored alternatives—replacing the surface on other practice fields and reconfiguring Bates—but found them infeasible given budget and space.

Why it matters: the choice affects playability, maintenance costs and athlete safety. Several board members raised injury concerns, especially for female soccer players. Director Williams referenced research compiled by the board that cited higher rates of ACL injuries associated with artificial turf in some studies; Pratt acknowledged the studies and said the district would specify modern turf systems with shock-absorbing pads, updated infill materials and surface-temperature management as part of any replacement.

Board scrutiny: Directors asked for concrete safety specifications and options before final approval. They requested schematic-design returns showing the preferred turf product, a bid alternate that lists safety upgrades, and a clear budget picture tied to quality levels. Director (speaker 10) asked whether line markings would prioritize soccer; staff said soccer markings would be primary and efforts would be made to de-emphasize football lines.

Next steps: the board paused further action on schematic design until staff returns with: (a) schematic designs and product samples; (b) a costed base bid plus alternates showing incremental safety upgrades; and (c) clearer information on maintenance protocols and expected replacement cycles. Pratt said staff has paused the procurement until the board reviews schematic design and alternates.

Attribution: Superintendent Matt Degner and COO Kurt Pratt presented the recommendation and survey results; Director Williams raised the injury-research concerns and asked for further specifications and options. The board did not take a final procurement vote on turf at this meeting.

Ending: Staff will return with schematic designs and bid alternatives, including safety-focused upgrades, before the board approves any contract or construction timeline.