Board frames North Middle turf and field improvements, public comments split over safety and urgency

District staff told the Board of Education on April 22 that voters will be asked to permit withdrawal from an existing capital reserve to fund athletic and site improvements at North Middle School, including replacement of the synthetic turf field, track resurfacing, drainage and related site work.

Deputy Superintendent John O'Keefe said the capital-reserve proposition does not affect the tax levy because the funds were previously set aside by voters. "This proposition is to utilize funds from the capital reserve, which has no financial impact on the voter," O'Keefe said during the budget presentation, summarizing the ballot language shown on the district slide.

Board members and administrators discussed the project timeline and contingency planning. O'Keefe said architects and construction managers had reviewed cost estimates and included contingencies for typical unknowns such as subsurface drainage conditions; he described alternates in bidding (lighting, grandstands, track, etc.) that the district can accept or reject if bids exceed available funds. He said the state education department must review and approve plans, a process he estimated could take up to 40 weeks before a building permit and public bidding could occur.

Public comment at the meeting showed contrasting views. Kevin Quah, a North High sophomore and varsity athlete, urged the board to prioritize turf, saying the district is the only one in the speaker's recollection without turf and describing repeated muddy practice conditions: "Implementing turf field should be our top priority," he said, describing games and practices hampered by soggy fields.

Several other speakers representing athletics and parents supported Proposition 2 as a voter decision. Justin Mayes, president of the Great Neck Soccer Club and a parent, thanked the board for placing the question before voters and praised the district's inclusive, democratic approach.

Opponents raised health and environmental concerns about artificial turf. Amy Glass, who said she had longer comments on record, warned of microplastics, potential chemical exposures from crumb rubber or other infill materials and higher surface temperatures on synthetic turf. She noted that some jurisdictions and professional players prefer natural grass and urged caution before committing to plastic turf and untested infill alternatives.

Administrators fielded questions about cost overruns, alternatives and how the district would proceed if bids exceeded estimates. O'Keefe said the project budget includes contingencies and that the district could reject bids, rebid, drop alternates or seek voter permission for additional funds if needed. He also said any unused reserve funds targeted to the project would remain in the reserve for future voter-authorized use.

The board did not vote to spend capital reserve funds at this meeting; it approved the SEQRA notice for the 2025–26 capital improvements (agenda item 9A) and adopted the budget and report card (agenda item 9B), which together put the capital proposition before voters in the May 20 election. Administrators emphasized that the second proposition is separate from the tax-levy vote and will be decided by the electorate.