Laguna district considers adding synthetic turf, new music facility at schools
During a study session Tuesday, the Laguna Beach Unified School District board discussed possibly adding synthetic turf to Thurston Middle School’s field and constructing a new music facility for El Morro Elementary.
District staff used the meeting at Laguna Beach High School to gauge the board’s interest on potential projects at all four of the district’s campuses as part of a 10-year improvement and repair plan.
For El Morro, which utilizes a 960-square-foot portable classroom for its band classes, the district is considering a permanent 2,880-square-foot facility, estimated to cost $1.6 million.
The larger space, said El Morro Principal Chris Duddy, would allow the band, chorus and string students to study under one roof, instead of being spread apart throughout the campus. Teachers could partition the space to create three separate rooms inside, or the partitions could be moved so the students could practice together, he added.
Board President William Landsiedel liked the idea of an all-inclusive music space.
“If we’re pushing the idea of music and art, we’re putting the dollars where our mouth is,” he said.
Regarding Thurston’s field — plagued by dips, gullies and a large crown — the board considered the benefits of synthetic turf instead of grass.
In addition to Thurston classes, AYSO players and Laguna Beach High’s softball team use the field, which the board acknowledged needs an upgrade.
“In 10 years of calling parents to raise money, that field had more complaints than anything else,” said school board member Carol Normandin, who also expressed sanitation concerns with artificial turf.
“My worry, since I have synthetic turf, is, how do you keep dogs off it?” she asked.
District Facilities Director Jeff Dixon noted that most bacteria is killed by ultraviolet light, and the district could install signs alerting dog owners to keep their pets off the field.
The $2-million estimated price tag for synthetic turf is $1.5 million greater than the $550,000 budgeted cost, though Dixon added that artificial grass would stay green without watering — a clear benefit if the drought continues.
“We could invest a lot of money into a natural grass field and in two or three years, experience drought again and be back to square one,” Dixon said. “New [synthetic] turf has a 10-year warranty. It comes down to maintenance. If you brush and sweep, it will last a lot longer.”
The district updates its plan annually and will present revisions to the board in January, Dixon said.
To access the 10-year facilities plan, visit the district’s website at lbusd.org. Click on the “Departments” tab, then click on “Facilities.”
Completed projects within the plan, now in its second year, include adding more shade structures for El Morro and replacing the synthetic turf at Laguna Beach High’s Guyer Field.
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
