Field upgrade not expected to disrupt graduation
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Staff Reporter

The installation of a new athletic field at Oakmont Regional High School this spring should not interfere with the traditional graduation plans.

Ashburnham-Westminster Superintendent of Schools Michael Zapantis said the only reason he can see having to move graduation from Arthur I. Hurd Field is inclement weather.

"The excavation should all be done by any significant deep freeze," Zapantis said. "Then we'll let it sit and settle during the winter."

The final grading of the field and then the installation of the turf will take place during the middle of spring, when the weather has warmed up.

Rain on graduation day is the only reason that Zapantis thinks an outdoor graduation would not be held at the high school.

The regional school committee voted in October to accept a bid for synthetic turf instead of natural grass as part of the project to upgrade and repair the athletic field. The field is used for high school football and soccer games, marching band practices, high school graduation, and Pop Warner football games.

The $712,100 for the project is coming from approximately $1.1 million that voters appropriated, after that money was reimbursed from the state for the Overlook Middle School building project. Part of that money was also used to refurbish the track at the high school this fall.

The bid for the project came in above the budgeted funds, so the district received

$6,500 in donations from local organizations and businesses to make up the difference.

Zapantis said leaders from some local organizations have approached him about holding a fundraiser so the district can upgrade the quality of the turf. The district is using the mid-quality turf, but also has a bid for the highest quality turf, which would add $28,000 to the project.

If the additional money can be raised, a change order would be issued for the turf upgrade.

"That really doesn't have to be decided until February or March," Zapantis said.

The higher quality turf is guaranteed for 10 to 12 years instead of the eight years for the mid-quality turf, Zapantis said. The turf the district plans to use could last up to 15 years, while the higher quality turf could last up to 20 years, he said.

"It has a longer life span," Zapantis said. "It's pretty durable."

The school committee asked voters to let them use the money for these capital projects. The money not go into the general operating budget, Zapantis said.

The committee voted in the spring of 2006 to use any money remaining after refurbishing the track and upgrading the athletic field to install new drainage in the parking lot at Overlook Middle School and to repave it.

Zapantis said because there are no funds remaining, that project will probably be included in the ongoing five-year capital plan for the district.