CPS approves money to replace turf on two HS football fields

The Columbia school board approved money to replace the turf on two high school football fields Monday night.

The fields at Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools have tears and balding spots of turf.

The turf had an eight year warranty and CFO for Columbia Public Schools, Linda Quinley, said that warranty has already expired.

“We knew we were at the end of that, but had not prioritized a capital expenditure to replace the turf because it’s very expensive,” she said.

It was expected to come with a price tag of more than $1.5 million for both fields. But the athletic department struck a deal with a company that’s agreed to replace both fields for much less.

“They sort of gave us a one time opportunity to replace those fields for $400,000,” Quinley said.

But because the turf has an estimated eight year life-span, Quinley said the district will eventually be facing the same issue again.

“This will be part of our long-range planning cycle going forward, knowing that out of our bond issues coming up, seven to eight years from now we’ll be planning to replace turf again,” she said.

And Quinley said the next time around, the district will likely be paying full price.

The money to replace the two fields will come from the operating fund budget.

The company will begin work as soon as a contract is put together and both fields should be finished by August.