Notes from the Superintendent

We have received some questions about the cost of maintaining a synthetic turf field vs a natural turf field. It is difficult to separate our specific field maintenance costs from our overall grounds maintenance expenses. However, the overall expense of maintaining natural turf is generally considered to be greater than the synthetic turf expense. That is because natural turf maintenance involves mowing, rolling/aerating, fertilizing, reseeding, and continuous re-striping for athletics contests. Synthetic turf surfaces come pre-striped and obviously do not require any of the natural turf maintenance. The only maintenance associated with synthetic turf is regular use of a specially designed machine that moves over the field surface. With proper maintenance, the latest generation of synthetic field carpets has a minimum life expectancy of about 10 years. There is no difference in liability insurance expense for either type of field that we are aware of.

Another question has to do with drainage. Synthetic turf fields are installed over a surface that has been especially prepared to provide both cushioning and proper drainage. They disburse rainwater much more efficiently than natural turf surfaces and are playable shortly after a rain storm.

We have also received questions about the timing of the project. One of the reasons the proposition is being put forward now is to take advantage of the opportunity to link the WI field to the redesigned WI facilities project and qualify for building aid from the state. In our district, approximately 25% of the approved cost of a project is covered by state aid. Also, the fields could not be installed until the summer of 2008 and the budgetary impact of the borrowing for the installation will not be realized until the 2009-10 school year, at which point we hope our tax base will have improved due to development activity on both the Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow waterfronts.

Extensive use of the district’s athletics fields by hundreds of children involved in recreational soccer, football, and baseball, as well as student athletes, has damaged our fields and resulted in unsafe playing conditions. Restoring and then properly maintaining fields through a natural turf approach would require us to reduce the use of our fields by local recreation programs and to schedule periodic recovery intervals for each field. Synthetic turf surfaces would provide versatile fields and safe playing conditions for both community recreation and school use. A synthetic surface allows more frequent use of each field than would be possible with natural turf and would extend fall and spring playing seasons since they are less impacted by weather than natural turf fields.

A $3,644,000 proposition on the May budget ballot seeks authorization to install a synthetic turf surface for the lower field at Washington Irving School and for the main playing field at Sleepy Hollow High School. Additional expenses included in the project budget beyond the field surface itself are limited to necessary equipment, such as goal posts and maintenance equipment. Lighting for the main field at Sleepy Hollow will be an option if sufficient funds are remaining after the turf installation expenses are covered. It would extend the opportunities to use the field, particularly during the late fall and early spring seasons.

This recommendation was preceded by a review of athletics facilities available in both villages as well as on school grounds. Click here to view the athletics facilities report that was presented to the Board of Education in January.

It is pretty apparent when you drive by our school that our construction project is in full swing. The work in front involves construction of a three-story addition containing science and general education classrooms, a new high school library, a new health center, and new middle and high school offices. What you can’t see from driving by on Broadway is the work going on behind the school where the steel framework for our new auditorium and high school gym will soon be erected.

The Washington Irving School project has been scaled back in order to keep projected costs within our overall budget. The existing building will be renovated and reconfigured to allow two grade levels to spread out in the space currently occupied by three grade levels. Much of this work will have to wait until the middle school expansion is completed and the sixth grade can move up to join the 7^th and 8^th grade in that building. This is anticipated to take place in the spring or summer of 2009.

Click here to view our most recent project newsletter. Updates on the project are provided at every school board meeting. Periodic PowerPoint presentations are linked to our web site, where we have created a special section that is devoted to our construction project.