Valley Central’s facilities team gave the board an update Dec. 8 on athletic-field maintenance, telling trustees they’ve implemented weekly inspections, aeration and overseeding and will pursue rotating practice schedules to reduce wear.

Director of facilities Ryan Schmidt and maintenance foreman Chris DeGrow said fields were heavily trafficked and showed seasonal wear, prompting an initial two-week rest and aggressive grooming on modified/JV areas that produced visible improvement. The district has overseeded and used core aeration and will monitor conditions through the spring.

Administration said Cornell University assisted in short- and long-term recommendations and suggested collecting usage data — how often teams occupy particular fields — so the district can make an evidence-based decision about whether to pursue artificial turf. The assistant superintendent for business noted irrigation needs for some fields and said budget discussions in February will consider equipment requests, including mobile irrigation and potential autonomous mowing technology as longer-term options.

Several board members and public speakers pressed for clarity on resources and rotation logistics, asking whether additional transportation or practice locations would be required to move teams off high-traffic fields. Administrators said they will raise specific capital or equipment requests as part of the February maintenance budget presentation.

Next steps: Facilities will continue the Cornell plan — weekly mowing, overseeding and monitoring — collect data on field use and propose equipment or capital items during February budget presentations.