Glenbard continues to review turf plans

Glenbard High School District 87 wants to install synthetic turf at all four of its main football fields, with plans for Glenbard North and Glenbard West moving the fastest.

Officials this month tabled a decision regarding Glenbard West's turf field, but those talks are expected to resume in January.

In the meantime, board members approved an intergovernmental agreement with Carol Stream Park District to help fund construction of a synthetic turf field at Glenbard North's stadium. Officials anticipate the field will be ready by the start of the 2009 school year.

School board President David Brown said leaders have been talking about the plans for a couple years.

"Our goal is to provide the best for all of our students, both in the curricular and co-curricular activities," he said. "We are also concerned about financial responsibility and want to be good stewards of the funding that we have."

Turf plans at Glenbard West include two options. One entails a $2 million project at Memorial Field, while the other is a $3.1 million project at Duchon Field.

The high school district has reached out to Glen Ellyn Park District to see if it's willing to enter into a joint agreement, but the topic is still being discussed.

Board members are waiting until January for an administrative recommendation.

"Then we'll make some decisions in that regard," Brown said.

At Glenbard North, officials are waiting for the park district to approve its portion of the artificial turf agreement.

The project would cost roughly $1.7 million. If approved, Carol Stream Park District would pay for half, and the other half would be split between Glenbard District 87 and the Glenbard North Athletic Boosters Club, a parent organization.

Glenbard officials will proceed with the project once everything's cleared on the park district's end.

Plans for Glenbard East and South have not yet been discussed.

"We have created a scenario that would allow each campus ... to have a synthetic turf field depending on the kind of local interest," Superintendent Michael Meissen said. "I think the spirit has been to foster partnerships with groups that have an interest in providing programs for kids and families."