The Atlantic School Board, during their meeting Wednesday evening, discussed a possible change in the field surface at Trojan Bowl. The options include a natural grass surface, a synthetic field, or sod. Superintendent Steve Barber said they’ve learned since the $9.5-million bond issue passed, that two of those options are problematic, especially when it comes to the 2020-21 football season. Natural turf takes at least a year to establish, so they would need to wait for a whole season to play on the field. Sod costs more, and it doesn’t seat as well after the first season of use, likely resulting a muddy field more than anything.

Board member Keith Swanson asked if it was possible for the football team to play all of their games on the road instead of at the Trojan Bowl while the natural grass grows. The rest of the Board wasn’t receptive to that idea. There’s a $600,000 difference between using natural turf and synthetic turf. Since that would be a change from the original concept when the money was bonded for, if the Board elects to go with that type of turf, they would have to raise money privately to make up the difference, or hope for lower bids once the decision is made. Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm said they could hope for that…but the bids could be much higher. The $8.5-million dollar construction project, he said, will no doubt attract numerous bids.

There is a group looking to come up with extra funds to help pay for the synthetic turf surface. In-kind contributions from sub-contractors could also help reduce the costs. Superintendent Barber says the School Board needs to make a decision by their next meeting May 8^th. Board President Josh McLaren said if they don’t go after the synthetic turf now, in two-or three-years they’ll probably regret it.

The plan you may recall, also calls for upgrades to the baseball/softball complex, a new parking area at Washington Elementary, a safer unloading and loading area for middle school and Elementary students, and a new synthetic field turf at the high school soccer field and a complete renovation of the Trojan Bowl which initially included a natural grass surface.