While listening to assurances that no Morgan Hill School
District high school students would be in danger of not playing the
sport of their choice next year, trustees also heard that in order
to create quality playing fields at the new Sobrato High, the
district might have to shell out another $150,000 to $300,000.
While listening to assurances that no Morgan Hill School District high school students would be in danger of not playing the sport of their choice next year, trustees also heard that in order to create quality playing fields at the new Sobrato High, the district might have to shell out another $150,000 to $300,000.
“I’m bothered,” said Trustee Shelle Thomas. “We have a $3.9 million contract with Jensen for landscaping. Now after its been bid, they’re coming back with additional $150,000 to $300,000. I’m not happy with what we’ve got now (at Live Oak). I want a field we can use. I want to minimize my cost, not maximize it. I want something low maintenance, maybe plain old Bermuda grass that goes dormant in the winter. How do I get there?”
The additional cost, according to a report presented to the board by Al Solis, director of construction and modernization for the district, is for bringing in sand to the fields. The $150,000 estimate would be for the football field alone; the $300,000-$350,000 estimate would pay for treating all the Sobrato fields.
The sand was deemed necessary, according to Solis, after a soil analysis showing the fields have a clay-based root zone, which will not drain well. They clay also makes deep root growth – necessary for fields with high usage – very difficult without extensive maintenance including regular aeration.
The district has already had problems with one football field, the new field put in at Live Oak high as part of the modernization project. Apparently the field was used before the new grass had time to take root and was under-watered then over-watered, resulting in bare patches and divots.
Solis’ answer to Thomas’ question about the new field was succinct.
“Artificial turf,” he said. “It is a challenge and it is frustrating but this ( the soil analysis) has come in after the award of the bid. We could break the contract and re-bid, and possibly have a higher cost. It is a losing proposition either way.”
Perhaps given the district’s financial situation, the fields should be made playable, not exceptional, he said.
“You have to expect divots and open areas where the kids have damaged the fields,” said Solis. “That’s reality. I don’t see how we’re going to come up with this amount of money to put this in and maintain it.”
Trustee Del Foster said one of the problems with the Live Oak field is the level of community usage.
“We have a lot more community usage than I’ve observed at other school districts,” he said. “I would be concerned whether an artificial turf could withstand that heavy use and abuse.”
Trustee Mike Hickey wanted to know more about the district possibly using artificial turf.
“What is the cost now for an artificial turf field,” he asked. “I know they’ve just come down a little in price.”
Sobrato Principal Rich Knapp, who was principal at Live Oak until last year, said that when he considered artificial turf for Live Oak, it was cost prohibitive.
“It was between $650,000 and $700,000 a year and a half ago,” he said.
Solis said artificial turf was an alternative with Jensen Corp., the company that was awarded the landscaping contract.
“The first bid alternative with Jensen was $375,000,” he said. “The benefit is that there would be no maintenance costs, and we could use it as much as needed … Beall sports has recommended it to many other clients in a similar situation.”
Trustee Tom Kinoshita pointed out that many college and professional teams were going back to natural turf after having artificial turf because of injuries.
Solis said the technology of artificial turf has improved.
“I am told the whole technology of artificial turf has evolved, that the turf itself has individual blades, not like a carpet, and it is much better than it used to be,” he said.
Whichever turf is chosen, trustees must also deal with the issue of eligibility and availability for student athletes.
Knapp told trustees and concerned parents in the audience there was no need to worry.
“No student would have to use a voluntary move to play sports at Live Oak or Sobrato,” he said.”No student would be penalized by open enrollment. If we take all 107 students that applied (to transfer to Live Oak Sobrato), and we choose to honor choice placement, there would be no problem at all.
“The only student who would be at risk is if a false address was given for registration. Hopefully, with open enrollment and choice placement, no student would have to resort to doing anything along those lines.”
Earlier in the meeting, Live Oak head football coach Glen Webb raised questions about athletic eligibility with the opening of the new school.
“Although that report (Knapp’s) omits the CCS provision for one-free eligibility move per student, they still do not provide for the type of student movement necessary to insure all students access to team offerings, “ Webb said. “Actual program offerings at each site will be subject to minimum participation guidelines yet to be defined.”
In anticipation of the projected opening of Sobrato High in August, high school boundaries were drawn last year in a sometimes-contentious process. Students who do not wish to attend their school of residence had the opportunity to request a transfer during the district’s open enrollment period, Jan. 6-30. During that time, parents could put in for a transfer to another school, if space is available. After that period of time is over, parents can still put in for a transfer, and if space is available they will be awarded first-come-first-serve, but it is now called choice placement.
According to Knapp, by CCS rules, with the opening of the new school, students don’t need to worry about eligibility.
“Next year, whatever your (school of) residence is, that doesn’t restrict you,” he said. “Your residence is established by the start of next year. It wouldn’t cost them one of their moves. A student has one free move in four years of eligibility.
“None of our students are in that role (to lose eligibility and have to sit out because of a transfer). None of our students are in danger. The 107 (students requesting transfer to Live Oak) falls beneath the maximum capacity (at Live Oak), so that’s not a problem. No child is put at risk.”
Trustee Mike Hickey had a concern about Sobrato’s CCS status.
“Sobrato won’t be CCS certified for two years,” he asked.
“ The only varsity sports we’ll have at Sobrato are tennis, field hockey and badminton,” Knapp said. “When we have varsity sports, then we’ll be automatically certified.”
