District 303 board gives initial OK to turf field for Thompson Middle School
Durability and accessibility were at the root of the St. Charles Unit District 303 school board's decision Monday to install a synthetic turf field at Thompson Middle School.
Another driving factor was the prospect of a deal with the St. Charles Park District that would help pay for the turf's eventual replacement.
The five-year agreement, which was approved by the school board Monday, allows the park district to pay an annual cost to rent the field when it's not being used by the district. Those funds are expected to cover more than half the cost of resurfacing the field in 10 to 12 years, said Seth Chapman, assistant superintendent for business services.
A new track and field at Thompson has been included in the district's plans to upgrade its middle school facilities — an ongoing project that came in under budget. Instead of putting in natural grass, as was initially planned, school board members agreed to spend $804,567 on the same turf material as what's being used at both high school athletic fields.
“The consistency is very commendable and very easy to get behind,” board President Kathy Hewell said. “I think this is a great thing for our community, even beyond Thompson School.”
The school board also decided to upgrade the middle school's track from asphalt to a longer-lasting polyurethane product, which will cost about $132,825.
With more durable materials, the track and field can be used for more months of the year and by more groups, whether it be sports teams, physical education classes, special needs students or other organizations, Chapman said. High school athletic teams in particular can use the field for additional camps and practices, he said.
“All those things help make it a more desirable approach than a grass field,” Chapman said. “There's a mutual benefit here.”
The park district also intends to use the field for outdoor programs, camps and tournaments, he said. The agreement begins next June and includes an option for a five-year extension.
According to the deal, the park district will pay $32,000 annually for the first two years. The contract amount for the next three years will be set based on the number of hours the park district uses the field in the second year, Chapman said.
If the park district board approves the agreement Tuesday, the school district will direct contractors to move forward with the upgraded track and field materials, Chapman said. Construction likely would be complete next spring.