Should Rocky Point Schools Spend $1M of Capital Reserves on AstroTurf?

The Rocky Point School District recently held a community forum to introduce proposed capital projects, including the hotly debated topic of installing synthetic turf to the High School football field.

The estimated project costs include $1,010,000 for the replacement of the grass field with synthetic turf, $680,000 for the reconstruction of the existing track and $300,000 for the reconstruciton of instructional laboratories.

According to the presentation, all proposed projects, if approved by the Board of Education and voters, will be funded through the District’s Capital Projects Reserve Fund. The funding would not result in an increase in property taxes related, and if constructed as proposed, the projects would be submitted for building aid reimbursement from NYS at approximately 70 percent of the actual project costs. Reimbursement could potentially reduce the net cost to $597,000.

Arguments have been made both for and against the projects, specifically the astroturf. Supporters argue that it is a matter of safety for student athletes, while opponents feel that the money could either be better spent or shouldn't be spent at all. The powerpoint presentation and a turf field "fact sheet" are attached above.

What do you think of the proposed projects? Should the capital reserves be spent on these projects, on other projects or not at all at this time? Tell us in the comments below.