Board of Education, Superintendent Support Turf Project

The Montville Township Superintendent's office issued a press release on Monday regarding the turf referendum to be held in September. 

According to the release, the to hold a referendum  on September 27 of this year to turf an athletic field at Montville Township High School.

The release also states that the Board of Education "believes it is in the best interests of the students and taxpayers of the Montville Township School District to install a turf field at this time. The existing grass field can no longer support the extensive use of the high school athletic field."

Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried said in the release that "The creation of a turf field at our high school will have a positive impact on hundreds of students.  Over 1,000 students in physical education classes at the high school will have a multi-use field available for their instructional program daily.  

"Hundreds of student athletes, along with our marching band, will practice and play games on a safe surface, one that can be used during as well as after a heavy rain without compromising the integrity of the field.  Community travel and recreational teams will often have access to the turf field, enhancing their athletic experience.  A new grass field, even with a well-developed maintenance plan, would not be able to be sustained based on the high degree of field use needed by the District and community."

The Board has seen a surplus of $1.5 million dollars due to a change in employee health insurance, and the surplus, the release says, is a one-time occurrence and "may not be sustainable from year to year; therefore it would be fiscally imprudent to commit these funds to a year after year recurring expense like staff, teachers and programs."
The project's estimated cost is $990,000, and the project will not be undertaken unless voters approve of the transfer of funds in the Sept. 27 referendum.

"This is an unusual opportunity to build a field our students deserve and our community can take pride in," said Board President Dr. Karen Cortellino in the release.

A non-profit organization called Turf the Valley has also pledged $100,000 to the project, according to the release.

For more information, see the school district's website. Information sessions will be held during the weeks prior to the vote in September.