School board to look at field replacement study

Newport-Mesa school board members on Tuesday will consider a study of the district’s high school football fields and tracks to see if they need to be replaced.

School board members will consider a proposal to hire LPA Architects for the study for no more than $10,000.

“We’re planning ahead. For planning purposes we need an estimate of what it would cost to replace all the tracks and fields with artificial turf,” Deputy Supt. Paul Reed said.

The district does not have the money or any plans to revamp any of the tracks or fields, he said, but school officials would like to know how much it would cost just in case.

“People will say you can do that tomorrow, but the truth is you can’t,” Reed said.

Long-term maintenance costs are the same for turf and a weather-proof track, but the district would get a lot more use out of it, he said.

Plus, the community could use the fields on the weekends without interfering with school programs.

— Joseph Serna