" There is no additional expense to turf. The savings in watering, mowing, fertilizing, and seeding will more than pay for the eventual replacement. Unfortunately the school administration will not put away the savings in an enterprize fund to pay for the replacement in 10 years but private funds can be arranged again. NO LOCAL TAX FUNDS should be spent. "

" I agree brew-if it ALL is funded privately they can have it!
This also means NOT to soak the tax-payers for upkeep or replacement in 10 yrs!

Fairway,
2006 state title won a fluke! Initially, they wouldn't have been in states finals!
I believe this is what started the whole thing-because they won-we need to REDO for appearances.
Ranks up there with the Bucs won the Super Bowl so let's BUY them a whole new stadium-more tax dollars wasted!
If the pro's don't need it neither does a high school team!
Rainy, wet fields are also not the same every year either, because it was a case in 2006 it wasn't the case in 2007!

It is a luxury needing to be funded privately if it is so desperately wanted! "

" I would think the voters would have a say even if the turf were privately funded IF the public will be responsible for the costs of upkeep.

If a private donor or donors want to fund the whole shebang -- go for it! Otherwise, the voters have already let it be known very clearly how they feel about paying for turf. No means no, not come ask them again a few months later. "

" If the turf is paid for by private funds then there is no vote. The voters only vote if public funds are spent. So you have no say if the money is not yours. "

" CM, I am not suggesting any competition with other districts, I am just stating what the vast majority of other districts have for facilities, including much smaller districts like Marcellus and Waterloo.
Did you even read over your post? You are suggesting that the Auburn District drop a sport and play in the Summer when school is not in session? Now that is forward thinking!! No, the Spring athletes are not the only ones forced to travel away to play on synthetic turf. In 2006 the State Champion Maroon football team was preparing for their playoff games. Unfortunately the weather during late October and November was extremely wet. So wet as to make all the fields in the district unplayable. Auburn was forced to bus the team to Corcoran so they could practice on a, guess what,a synthetic turf field. Six or seven times they needed to do this.
Hey Vinmeister, Our district has one of the highest watermarks scholastically in section III that athletes must maintain to be eligible to play.Half of the starters on the football team, a large number of the boys and girls swim teams,the girls cross-country and soccer teams and boys and girls lacrosse teams are High Honor or Honor roll students. Every varsity coach at Auburn empasizes the importance of scholastics ahead of athletics.You should also know that some of the best Senior athletes at Auburn are also ranked in the top 10-20% of their class scholastically.Do not ever suggest publically that because "people" care about athletics and the improvement our athletic facilities that they do not also empasize education. "

" vinmeister1,
I used to argue these points alot.
BUT-the system is setup into different funds.
1. for building repairs/upgrades/new schools/etc. basically the physical appearance of the grounds and building.

2. another fund for teachers wages, books, computers, sports teams, band/etc basically the insides or guts of the programs.

Funds from the governments go to certain categories, and cannot be used for OTHER areas.
maybe a new schools has a "pretty building" already, so they are forced to spend the monies trying to get prettier even though they truly need more staffing or books--Yet fund #2 for books is broke right now, and Fund #1 though being rich is simply not allowed to share!

Idiotic policy/system, which needs a total makeover to meet the needs of each school. "

" Now you're trying to convince me that Auburn needs to keep up with Jones'/other districts..

Not ALL teams are bussed to syracuse to play games, if that is the case then maybe the board needs to cut "spring lacrosse" and just have the sport in the summer?

again more UNneeded luxeries out of the tax payers wallets. "

" No. Parental involvement lowers drop out rates. Neither synthetic turf, or new school supplies, or computers will help that problem.
Most Varsity sports (except baseball and swimming)already practice at Holland and players usually provide their own transportation. Even if that was not the case do you equate busing players from the HS to East Middle the same as busing to Syracuse for games? Or searching during the Spring or late Fall for a synthetic turf to practice or play on? I am sorry but in the climate we live in synthetic turf is extremely usable,and durable. Just ask the 10 (out of 14) school districts Auburn athletes play against who have synthetic turf how they feel. "

" Wow we have kids that are struggling in school and school that don't want to deal with them. Yet we want to support these sports programs. I am a sporting guy myself but this is nuts! How about paying for more teachers to cut these class sizes down. Make school more fun. I can't believe people only care about sports and not education. It's insulting. "

" wow tlb4
talk about open mouth and insert foot:
"unnecessary luxuries".

correct thats exactly what TURF is!
"

" Whenever someone says "it will cost the taxpayers nothing" it is a total LIE!
one way or another -it will cost us.

You speak of ONE sport-well all the high school practices are at the high school--I suppose they would need to practice on turf since they would play on turf.
So if we saved money from ONE teams "away" games--we are adding busses/bus drivers/GAS for the other teams to have practice there-CORRECT?
These monies DO come from the tax-payer!

Holland does need upgrades-I was just there last year for a graduation. It was no where near horrible either.

Upgrade but NOT to the tune of the high costs that the school board wants.

ps-what good are computer projectors-will they lower the drop-out rate?!
"

" Yea I read the "two cents" full of opinions without any factual reasons for back-up.
Every school vote or capital project is deemed "unnecessary" by some voters. Thank goodness that most voters realize that school equipment, supplies, and buildings need updating and improvement regularly. Of course the most famous line I've read "Grass was good enough when I played 35 years ago, it's good enough now" Well guess what, most people lived 35 years ago without microwaves, and no one had computers or the internet.Those items could be deemed "unnecessary luxuries". "

" tlb4, this is an old issue that we voted NO on once and its been constant fodder for the two cents blog also. Most of us feel no to turf and that includes me and I am far from closed minded. We are hoping they take this pork out of the proposed budget so that the needed items c/b passed. In the times we are in, turf is an unneeded luxury. "

" Cm, that's the way to be closed minded. Synthetic turf is safe, there is no greater risk of injury studies show versus natural grass. The school district could play at least 4 times the number of games and practices on synthetic turf than real grass @ Holland.The district would save money having the Spring lacrosse teams play at home in March and early April instead of busing the athletes to all "away" games(14 away games between March 26 and April 16 girls and boys) Best of all Synthetic Turf placed @ Holland, because of private and business donations, will cost local taxpayers NOTHING!!!
By the way, part of the upcoming proposal also includes funding for computer-projectors for our classrooms to improve the education of our students. Don't say NO because you don't know what else to say, give some facts for your answer. "

" TIM NO TURF!!
voters said NO NO NO
get over it and go on with more important issues like bussing, books, school programs, staffing, graduates!!! "