The Vinton-Shellsburg School District has taken two more steps toward becoming the next Iowa district to replace its grass football field with a multi-purpose field turf.
During Monday's meeting, the VS School Board approved an appropriation of $200,000 from the FY 2015 PPEL funds, bringing the district's total financial commitment to $810,000. The board also approved the letting of bids and specifications for the project, and hopes to review several bids during its November meeting.
Completion of the total project will also depend on local fund-raising, and donations from area residents and businesses. The district has received over $100,000 in such support; Activities Director Jim Struve said the district is making progress with its fund-raising efforts.
In April, the school board rejected one bid for approximately $1.2 million for the resurfacing of the track as well as the synthetic surface known as field turf.
Engineer Josh Pope of the Minnesota-based I & S Engineering Group told the board that letting the bids in the fall instead of the spring puts the district at the front of the bidding season. He said the date of the bidding and other minor changes in the specifications will result in more bids on the project this time, which he said should lead to more competitive pricing.
School board members and VS staff discussed the costs and benefits of the projects, as well as some board members' concerns.
VSHS Assistant Principal Ken Kasper told the board that he came from a district (Forest City in north-central Iowa) that had field turf for baseball and softball as well as football; he said that leaders in that district determined that in addition to offering year-round use, the field turf was more economic to install than a grass field.

Health and Safety Concerns
School board member Megan Rickels said she had talked to officials in both Solon and Benton Community about the field turf projects installed in those districts a few years ago.
“They were very happy with it,” she said.
Yet, Rickels said she had some safety concerns.
“The most important question is 'Is it best for our kids?' Is it safe?” Rickels asked.
Rickels shared three concerns: The risk of infection, the heat factor and the overall safety of the rubber-based fill (made from recycled tires).
Pope said that the pulverization process is designed to remove the poisonous chemicals from the rubber. He also said that while a synthetic field turf will retain heat more than a grass field, no studies have shown that it has a significant impact on players. Likewise, he said, no studies have shown any additional infection risks from the synthetic turf.
Board member Kathy Van Steenhuyse also asked about staph infection (MRSA). Coach Joe Womochil said there have been three cases of that involving his players in the past two and one-half seasons. But the main factor in those concerns, he said was the players protective equipment, as well as failures of some players to shower.
Concerning the heat, Kasper told the board that his experience at Forest City showed that the ability of the field turf to capture the heat of the sun helped melt snow earlier in the spring, leading to more opportunities for spring sports teams to practice outside earlier.
The board members and coaches discussed various aspects of the project for several minutes, including drainage, the extensive dirt base placed under the turf, and the option to use a “green” ecofill product instead of the recycled tires.
The future of the project depends on the amount of the bids received next month, as well as continued public support and donations.
While some members discussed the possibility of resurfacing the track in 2015 and then installing the field turf in a later year, Mike Timmermans spoke in favor of doing the entire project.
“Our students deserve a one-shot project,” he said.
Board member Rob Levis agreed, saying that seeing a soccer player dislocate his ankle because of the rough condition of the VS soccer field was enough to make him a fan of the field turf.
In addition to football games, the field turf would be durable enough for football, soccer and band practices, as well as daily use by PE classes.
See a story about the fund-raising effort HERE.