The board heard an extended presentation and discussion on action item 10.2, a tag‑on bid to purchase and install synthetic turf at Choctawhatchee High School, Niceville High School, Crestview High School and Baker School.

Dr. Bill Smith, program director of facilities and planning, and Mr. Meyer (program manager) explained the rationale: synthetic turf provides a consistent playing surface, improved drainage, lower water usage and reduced need for annual sod replacement on heavily used stadiums; it also supports community events, marching band, ROTC and multiple sports that now use fields year‑round. Smith and Meyer said the district expects a lifecycle cost savings when maintenance, irrigation and re‑sodding costs are considered.

Principals who use the fields described safety and durability concerns with existing natural turf — noting holes, sand base issues and poor drainage on some sites — and said synthetic turf would reduce canceled games and maintenance burdens. Board members asked technical questions about engineering differences and price variation: staff said three of the four fields require construction of retention ponds (raising engineering costs) while Niceville can use an existing nearby city retention pond, reducing its engineering scope and cost.

Board members also raised operational concerns: how the district will limit long‑term replacement risk (trustees asked about setting aside funds for future resurfacing), whether rubber infill pellets would migrate off fields and require recurring maintenance, and equity for Fort Walton Beach High School (which already has turf installed in 2017 and will require future replacement). Staff answered that district finance staff will set aside funds annually for future replacement and that contractors will include maintenance equipment and drainage engineering to limit pellet migration; drainage and geotechnical work differ by campus based on ponding and site constraints.

Finance staff said the project was not funded from sales tax revenue but was possible because savings were realized on COP (certificates of participation) bids; doing the four fields together was a timing opportunity that allowed the district to avoid selecting one site over others. The transcript shows robust board support and detailed operational discussion, but the workshop record does not include the final roll‑call vote on the item.