Chatham board moves to lock turf fields after damage, e-bike safety concerns

The School District of the Chathams Board of Education on Aug. 25 agreed to pursue plans to lock two district turf fields after board members described repeated misuse, vandalism and safety hazards.

Board members said e‑bikes riding on turf, broken glass, garbage and human and animal waste are creating safety and maintenance problems that threaten to make fields unusable. “The fields are incredibly expensive to replace. So I think our goal is to try to maintain the current field throughout the school year if possible so that it's not a safety hazard,” Dr. Sartino said during the discussion.

Why it matters: Board members said locking the turf could extend its life and reduce the risk of injuries from hidden debris and ruts. Several members argued that after‑hours access by neighborhood users and fast e‑bikes has increased the wear and tear that often leads to costly replacement.

What the board discussed: An unnamed board member opened the exchange by asking if anyone objected to “preserving Hossfield and locking it up.” Administrators and other members replied that locking is operationally feasible: custodial staff could lock fields overnight and unlock them before school, and the fence and driveways at Cougar already make access easier to control. No formal policy was adopted at the meeting; members sought to resolve logistics in committee and with operations staff.

Enforcement and police partnership: Councilman Justin Strickland, speaking during public comment, offered to coordinate with local police to provide education for families and suggested featuring officers at school open houses to explain e‑bike classes and legal requirements. “I volunteer to work with the police department … to maybe have the police show up at open house and have a table set up to educate parents about e‑bikes,” Strickland said.

E‑bike complexity: Board members discussed possible restrictions on Class 3 e‑bikes — the faster models that may require licensing or registration under state rules — but noted enforcement on school grounds would require law enforcement support. “There’s different classifications. If it’s a Class 3 it is qualified as like a moped and you do need a license,” Strickland said.

Costs and next steps: A board member said replacing a turf field is costly, on the order of about $1 million (exact replacement estimates were not provided). Administrators will work with custodial operations, athletic directors and the finance committee to draft a plan for locking and access procedures and return with recommendations; no formal vote on a permanent locking policy was taken at the Aug. 25 meeting.

The board also discussed complementary actions including outreach and refresher programs for students and families about safe riding and equipment rules. The board signaled broad support for locking to protect playing surfaces while staff and committees sort out operational details.