Tide May Turn Against Turf

The Sag Harbor School Board took on a number of ongoing issues at its meeting Monday, including plans for the former Stella Maris Regional School, which the district is considering buying, a controversial proposal to install a synthetic turf field behind Pierson Middle and High School, and the district’s 2016-17 budget.

The board had previously agreed to add a bond proposition about Stella Maris to the district annual balloting on May 17, but it did not specify which of five options for the property would be pursued. In a survey, residents have since favored using Stella Maris for the district’s prekindergarten program and early intervention services for students with special needs. On Monday, the school board revised the language of the forthcoming bond proposition in keeping with residents’ suggestions.

“I think we all agree that the first option was something that was supported by the administration and the community,” Susan Kinsella, the board president, said. Meanwhile, Katy Graves, the school superintendent, announced that the district would hire an outside firm to review Stella Maris cost projections.

When the proposal for a new playing field came up, at least three board members indicated support for a new field other than synthetic turf. Tommy John Schiavoni and Stephanie Bitis said they wanted to explore alternatives to synthetic material and Diana Kolhoff, who was not at the meeting, submitted a letter in which she said she favors grass. The discussion was met with applause from about 20 residents in attendance.

During the board’s last business meeting, it had rejected two bids for turf fields because both came in over the $1.62 million budgeted. On Monday, Sandra Kruel, a board member, suggested bringing in an outside expert to evaluate the current field and give the district a breakdown of what it could do with the money that already had been approved by voters for a new field. Other board members seemed to agree.

According to Ms. Graves, the district will have to put funding or a change of use for the field up for another vote regardless of what material it agrees to use. Doing so would also require special legislation from the state, she said.

At the start of Monday’s meeting, the school board reviewed a second draft of the 2016-17 budget, which stands at $38.78 million. The proposed tax levy increase is 2.98 percent, which is under Sag Harbor’s allowable limit of 3.2 percent.

It was reported that additional state aid and revenue from a $247,000 transportation contract with the Wainscott School District allowed the district to take on the financing of several new buses, including one that will be wheelchair-accessible.

According to Jennifer Buscemi, the school business administrator, “Nothing is being cut out of next year’s budget. Everything is being sustained.”