If you haven’t already noticed, the North East School District is just beginning the $3.5 million artificial turf project.
Do you remember when the school board gathered input from the entire North East community about whether spending millions of taxpayer dollars for artificial turf would be a good idea? You don’t? Well, I don’t either. The talk in the board meetings was about what the project involved and included a sales presentation from the company doing the work, but there was no clear explanation of why it was being done in the first place and what other options there might be. There are a lot of unanswered questions about it beyond the exorbitant cost, like player safety and ground water pollution. What also remains unclear is how a new track and field surface will enhance student learning.
Why not buy turf, student achievement is excellent, right?
These numbers are explained in detail here. For the full breakdown see the spreadsheet.
If students in North East are receiving a superior education and the district has lots of cash, then a track and field improvement project might be something to consider. Well, how are students doing? Look at the graphic above. I don’t recall the North East School District proudly showing off the test scores for last year, of course, if you look at the results you’ll know why. “Well below” isn’t something to be proud of. I wrote about those scores here.
Turf and taxes
This turf project is a high visibility indicator of a school district that has lost its budgetary discipline. Schools decide what they’re going to do, determine how much it costs then you and I get the bill. Without a turf project, there’s no need for a tax increase and the funds could be better used in ways that would benefit all students. The athletic programs would not be affected, after all, the athletic fields are already there, so there’s no loss of function.
Show up and speak up … or pay up
If you think high quality education and better academic achievement should be the priority instead of photogenic football fields and if you think schools need to adjust their spending to match their income instead of spending on massive projects, expecting taxpayers to pick up the tab, don’t complain to your friends and family, go to a board meeting and tell the school board to make serious cuts in the budget or cancel the turf project and focus on student learning instead. Just a thought.
NE School Board meeting 5-2-24
NE School Board backup documents 5-2-24
Lori Snyder says
It is a lot to put on the backs of retired people who are barely keeping and maintaining their homes .
Ted Jones says
As long as the district can legally raise our taxes without consent they will continue to do so. It’s like a crack addiction and we’re paying for the crack. We need to be talking to our legislatures to either repeal or replace Act 1 with something that better represents the people.
Sandy says
I so admire the caring community that post on this informative website. I don’t live in North East and don’t know how I happened to get this information. Perhaps it was when all the solar farm propaganda was being spread.
I wish all school districts would be aware how important it is to elect the correct officials to school boards and community officials. We have to live with the decisions made by these people. So very important to be informed and vote.
Peggy L Watkins says
Why has sports become more important than quality education? Taxpayers are suffering enough with the cost of living.
Paul Jordan says
Absolutely agree.
Education is / should be the #1 priority and if the above illustration is correct then we are missing it. I was a former athlete (not a good one), I had children who were good athletes and have grandchildren that are good ones, so I am all about athletics, as long as education is first and it doesn’t put an unfair burden on the taxpayers.
It appears the school district views there budget just as government does. (no accountability).
Anonymous says
Bad for the kids, area residents and the environment (air, water, wildlife, etc)
https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/synthetic-turf
PA constitution- residents have a right to clean air & water
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/GoodNatured/pages/Article.aspx?post=171
Boston bans artificial turf due to forever chemicals::
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/30/boston-bans-artificial-turf-toxic-forever-chemicals-pfas
Joan Bubna says
When are they going to quit spending money and raising our taxes
Patti Luke says
I believe that without community transparency, this project is a complete waste of public money, Seems if a sales pitch is all it takes to then have the project approved by the board, the board must already have the money to pay for it without a tax increase to residents. If they don’t have the money and want to increase our taxes by 6% to pay for it, the board is stepping way outside their authority. I would certainly make sure to NOT reelect any current board member if this happens and our taxes increase to pay for it. I’m all for spending on education. Looks like by the score, they need a little spent there instead of a new track..
Richard Locke says
I believe that the field is not just for athletes, but the marching band that got muddy feet on the field.
A lot of turf field are being reviewed (the NFL is reviewing the turf field and going back to grass, because of injuries caused by the hard field).
Just because other school districts are going to turf doesn’t mean NE had to follow suit.
Is there Additional cost for cleats (shoes) for turf and grass fields.
The track could be redone and the field could have a crown put on it and better drainage.
Douglas Dunham says
With the cost of everything else going up in cost, now is the time to lower our school taxes so we can eat, not raise them 6%. We already pay far too much in taxes.
Laura Houser says
Someone wants to “look good” is the reason this project is being done, nothing more. There was no transparency to this, it was all underhanded and done without the input of the community. Yet once again, with a 6% increase, we get left holding the bag. Most other schools, and the NFL are returning to grass because of the injury rates that come with this. Or is that not of concern as long as it “looks good”
B. Malone says
This project has been a major need for years. The NE facilities have been a joke, and it’s the main reason kids choose not to do sports. People fail to realize the sheer volume of activities that will take place in this facility. Ask anyone who is actually involved in the school district and uses these facilities, they are a must.
The tax increase being tied directly to this project is also a false claim. There are millions that are wasted every year for so many other reasons, yet this project which was years in the making is being made as the scape goat.
If you want the kids of NE to have pride in their school and to get involved, you’d support this project.
Paul Crowe says
Nonsense. The kids in North East are so spoiled they can’t play on grass?
Millions? Then those millions need to be cut from the budget. Any suggestions?
The primary mission of the school is to educate students. Do that and lots of other projects are possible. If the school is known for high academic achievement, kids will be proud of their school and be happy to be associated with it.
B. Malone says
They can do this project without raising taxes. That’s the key. This project is not the reason for this increase.
Paul Crowe says
The justification for the tax increase is being laid on cyber charter schools which is a subject that requires an entire article of its own. School districts don’t like charter schools and blame them for a lot of things, especially budget shortfalls.
Patricia says
Number one suggestion would be to stop funding cyber school as an option. Kids leave school go to cyber just so they can sleep in. They are left unsupervised and fail out, only to return back to school. Meanwhile, the taxpayers form over tens of thousands for them to attend, then get nothing back. Start there.
Elizabeth Bittner says
Not necessarily true. My daughter did cyber school her sophomore year and graduated a year early. She is in college now with a 4.2 GPA. I promise she did not sleep in. She worked her you know what off. This falls on the parents and students having self-discipline. Not all students do cyber school as a means to sleep in and slack off.
CliffS says
Having turf doesn’t increase the amount of activity. In fact, it may actually reduce it to reduce the cost of maintenance. These fields aren’t the great fix that many people had thought they are. In fact many institutions are starting to revert to grass, but as is the case so many times with our district, we love making the same mistakes as others, only worse. The track needed to be replaced, and I seem to recall that the cost would be about $200k… a long shot from $3.5mm
B. Malone says
Activity includes all practices (including band). When General McLane redid their stadium, the number of events increased from a few home football games and track meets to over 1,000 events in a calendar year. Football, soccer, band, track & field, baseball & softball all benefit. Phys Ed classes can go out to it on beautiful days just like they do at Harbor Creek. So yes, activity will most definitely increase.
Eric says
200k may have been to resurface but not to put a new track in. This track was put in 30 years ago, resurfaced in 2002. Sense then has only been patched. The drainage grid on the field was installed 12 years ago with a life expectancy of 10 years. 1 of the 3 drain pipes has not been draining water for a few years. The soccer fields to my knowledge have never had anything done to them. B. Malone is absolutely correct that the field would be used much more than it is now. Time slots are created and teams/activities fill in the time slots. Baseball and softball are able to use the turf earlier when the fields are still to wet to practice on. This keeps them from having to use the gyms. Soccer games are now in the stadium. As far as maintenance, it’s not more maintenance, just different maintenance. The district will also be able to charge admission for more events which is used for maintenance costs. This has been a very long planning and discussions process. The district didn’t just dive in blindly. There was more than a few meetings on it including a committee created. If you didn’t know about it until just this year that is on you. If you did know about it but waited until now to oppose it that also is on you.
L Bres says
I like to see the pride in the school come from high educational standards and kids who meet them. Sports are great but there used to be grade standards that had to be met before a student could play a sport. By the looks of those test scores that’s not happening. Also, is this turf just for looks? Because I’ve seen many studies that say artificial turf is bad for the players both as a surface ( serious injuries) and the chemicals used ( potential carcinogens and respiratory issues).
E. Dudick says
I wouldn’t be against it if every child would benefit, but all children do not benefit from athletics. Raising the taxes at this time is hard on everyone. As I understand correct me if I’m wrong, Mercyhurst offered to install new turf when they were part of the Community.
Eric says
Mercyhurst pulled the offer because they wanted it for soccer. A college soccer field would not fit inside the track.
Stacy Mal says
If I had a vote, the new track and turf would be a resounding no. It’s frustrating that they’re starting this during track season first of all. Because athletes can’t use the track now. Second, the chemicals and pollutants that will be emitted during this project and years after – into surrounding school buildings AND nearby neighborhoods – is absolutely frightening. These are known and well document “forever chemicals” – carcinogens. and hormone disrupters that also cause cognitive issues including lower IQ. Third, this community can’t financially bear the proposed increase.
Eric says
Paul,
Please understand that the “Scores” you used in your article are “Growth Scores” which are very different than “test scores”. You should contact the school to get a better understanding of what that is.
Paul Crowe says
Yes, I’m aware of the difference. If you go to the article I linked about the scores, you’ll see I also have a spreadsheet that shows how many students in each grade in the various subject categories were proficient and at what level:
spreadsheet of scores
Vince Ragosta says
Likely much better uses for that much money