Fort Worth school district to resume field turf debate

The push for field turf at Fort Worth’s high school practice fields is gaining traction.

“We are researching any way to provide turf fields for our school because they are needed,” said Pat Linares, interim superintendent of the Fort Worth school district.

While there is little debate over the need for the artificial surfaces, the same can’t be said for how to finance the fields.

Only practice fields at Paschal and Arlington Heights high schools have artificial surfaces, and those were paid for by the schools’ athletic booster clubs.

Under the $490 million bond approved by voters last year, the district’s 13 high schools were to receive $1 million each to remodel their field houses. But some parents and coaches at Southwest and South Hills high schools say they are happy with their field houses and would rather spend the money on artificial turf.

Linares says the bond money needs to be allocated for expenditures that were approved by voters. Voters were promised field house upgrades, not turf, she said.

And some of the schools, such as Dunbar High, definitely need upgrades. Dunbar’s field house is only 4,500 square feet, while other high schools have field houses twice that size. The district’s goal is to bring every field house up to standard, Linares said.

At a board meeting earlier this month, South Hills football coach J.J. Resendez cautioned board members that the practice fields at some district schools, including South Hills, are a danger to students. At South Hills, the grass fields tend to turn hard when it’s hot and become muddy swamps when it rains, he said.

“If it’s not the mosquitoes, it’s the [danger] of kids busting their heads in cement,” Resendez said. “The benefits [of turf] will outweigh the costs.”

Trustee Ann Sutherland has championed the issue of purchasing field turf for South Hills and other campuses. She said that many coaches and parents have contacted her about it.

“I have an email from the coach at South Hills who has talked to coaches all over the district, and they all want artificial turf,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland has urged that the issue be discussed at the board’s Jan. 13 regular meeting.

This story was originally published December 27, 2014 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Fort Worth school district to resume field turf debate."