District 87 candidates discuss turf

Candidates for the Glenbard High School District 87 school board have all sorts of opinions when it comes to plans to install artificial turf on athletic fields.

The school board and residents have been debating the idea of using artificial turf at all four of the district's high schools; the project already was approved for Glenbard North.

The board has approved tentative turf plans for Glenbard West, too, but nothing will move forward unless community groups step forward to pay for a portion of the project.

At a candidate forum Wednesday, Tom Voltaggio, the only incumbent running for four open spots on the board, said he won't support the Glenbard West proposal until it mirrors the one at North.

He said that was modeled on a one-third basis, with the district paying a portion, Carol Stream Park District pitching in and the school's Boosters making up the difference.

Challenger Yadav Nathwani said he'd have to first educate himself on the issue but would support it "as long as taxpayers aren't adversely affected."

Write-in candidate Donald Pydo is the only one who said he opposes the idea.

He decided to run for office after the board started talking about turf.

"Safety and health of the student athletes is a primary concern," he said. His research shows artificial turf increases the number of injuries and is also toxic, he said.

He also questioned if the district has enough money for the project.

However, John Snyder, another write-in candidate, said turf is widely used.

"It is safe in my opinion," he said. Although his research has shown there are increases in scrapes and burns, Snyder said the artificial turf will reduce traumatic injuries.

He also touched on space issues at Glenbard West, which is one of the major reasons the district wants to install turf.

The fields there offer less space than the other three high schools in the district, and proponents argue artificial turf will make the field more usable year-round.

"It allows more land to be used," write-in candidate Robert Friend said.

Several candidates also agreed that the one-third model is the one to use going forward when talking about installing turf at the remaining schools.

Write-in Luke Baer said the policy seemed fair, although the board has to be careful to consider all costs involved with turf, not just the installation cost.

Donald Birns, a write-in, said he'd also want to compare that to the current maintenance costs of the district.

Although he has heard of the health and ecological issues surrounding turf, Birns said he doesn't believe it will cause more injuries.

He said he'd also want to see the issue at Glenbard West paired with lights.

Richard Heim, a write-in candidate who was not able to make it to the forum on Wednesday, said the idea of community organizations helping to pay for the turf - which he fully supports - makes sense.

"It shouldn't fall on the entire school district to do so," he said.

Write-in candidates Rose Stelter and Thomas Stachelski said they were no longer pursuing a spot on the board and Philomena Merrithey, also registered as a write- in, could not be reached for comment.