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Parents ask board to back multi-sport turf project; district and foundation roles unclear
Summary
Parents asked the Wyoming Area School Board to support fundraising and planning for a multiuse turf field at the Atlas site; the board agreed to meet with organizers and staff clarified limits on EITC funding for facilities.
Renee Pisano and Rhonda Pisano told the Wyoming Area School Board on April 29, 2025, that parents and community members want district support to pursue a multiuse turf field to serve soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball/softball and junior programs.
Renee Pisano asked the board to “partner with myself and my sister-in-law … to start dealings to get turf for the school,” saying parents were prepared to do the fundraising work but wanted the board’s support. She asked whether the district or the Wyoming Area Foundation could help with fundraising or whether parents should form a 501(c)(3).
Rhonda Pisano described practical impacts: field-hockey teams in the district have been unable to host state-playoff home games because PIAA requires turf for those matches, forcing teams to rent turf time elsewhere. “Even by playing on grass, these girls are still getting division 1 scholarships,” Rhonda Pisano said, and she urged the board to consider siting turf at the Atlas area to maximize use by multiple teams and programs.
A parent estimated an approximate total cost “around a $4,000,000 mark,” which speakers described as hearsay rather than an engineering estimate. District officials said a meeting to scope options and funding would be appropriate. Dr. Pollard said the district or board could meet with organizers to review facilities needs and funding possibilities; a board representative offered to “get together and have a conversation” and said they would bring findings back to the board.
District staff clarified that the Wyoming Area Foundation’s contemplated EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) designation would not allow EITC funds to be used for facilities upgrades; EITC-supported funds generally must be used for programming that directly impacts students. Board members encouraged the parents to pursue grant research and noted that some funding strategies (including EITC) place limits on facility use.
No formal motion or vote to fund or study the turf project was taken at the meeting; board members and staff agreed to meet with parents and return with an action plan for possible fundraising and grant-seeking.
