Auburn school board ends turf talk

AUBURN -- The Auburn Enlarged City School District's postponed capital project will likely remain off the table for another year, and the idea of installing artificial turf at Holland Stadium is being dropped altogether.

The board of education's Long Range Planning Committee met on Tuesday to discuss the fate of its near $15.7 million capital project put on hold in May after voters first defeated the proposed 2008-09 school budget. The board intended to put before voters in June a five-year project dealing with school infrastructure, energy efficiency and technology, and renovations to Holland Stadium, including the installation of synthetic turf.

While committee members all agreed the district and its schools are in need of upgrades, specifically dealing with health, safety and technology, there was consensus that turf was not an option at this juncture.