Pleasant Valley School board tabled a motion Thursday night to replace the existing turf field at a cost of $860,551.

The base bid includes redesign and construction of an improved drainage system.

Director Ken Cocuzzo said he felt like there should be more discussion due to the expense and some questions regarding the safety of the rubber fill used in the field.

School board Vice President Donna Yozwiak questioned the need for a new field.

“I walked that entire field and I would invite any one of you to join me and show me why the field needs to be replaced,” Yozwiak said.

Upon further discussion, Travis Serfass, director of buildings and grounds, pointed out that the current field has serious drainage problems.

Superintendent David Piperato added that it is documented that when the field was installed in 2008, the drainage design was decreased in an effort to cut costs.

Even with the drainage problems, the district got 11 years out of the field, three to four years longer than the original design promised.

Questions arose regarding the use of recycled tires used as fill. Anyone who has walked on a turf field knows that there are tiny rubber balls scattered throughout the field. These balls help to cushion the field and are known as polychrome fill.

Bill Bamber, regional sales manager for FieldTurf USA was on hand to answer questions.

Bamber explained that there are natural alternatives to the polychrome fill, such as coconut husks and cork, but that both decrease the cushioning of the fields because they freeze, making the field harder.

Known as the GMax rating, the cushioning is important to avoid concussions and other sports injuries.

Bamber also said that the natural alternatives increase the initial cost of the field by about $200,000, and because they are natural, they will be depleted over time, which increases yearly maintenance of the field by about $30,000.

Bamber also said that the new field is guaranteed for 12 years and is four generations of design improved from the current field.

When asked about the safety of the polychrome, Bamber offered to provide the district with contact information to independent resources and studies.

“I would not have any issues with my children or my grandchildren playing on this field,” Director Russell Gould said.

“It is time to replace this field. We can’t keep putting it off if we want it done this year.”

There was a brief discussion regarding switching to a natural grass surface.

“I remember playing on a grass surface when only the football team was allowed to use the field, and it was a muddy mess,” Director Robert Serfass said. “And that was just for the football team.”

“My understanding is that if we were to switch to a natural grass field it would take at least 18 months before you could use the field, and so we would need to find somewhere else to play,” Piperato said.

“Also we would lose the field for soccer, lacrosse, and the community uses the field as well.”

Bamber said studies show more negative health impacts from chemical exposure on natural grass fields than turf.

It was decided to discuss the field’s replacement further at the next buildings and grounds meeting and put it on the agenda for the next board meeting.

The board approved other capital expenditures including $202,233 to replace the deteriorated loading dock at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School.

The contract was awarded to Gordian EZIQC.

A contract in the amount of $522,327 was awarded to KPN to restore the roof on four sections of the high school building in the area of the new gym and auditorium.