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Committee endorses exploring turf-field installations, staff to seek county reallocation
Summary
Staff recommended installing turf fields at Sherando, James Wood and Millbrook in a phased sequence and proposed shifting Sherando HVAC capital dollars temporarily; the committee signaled consensus to explore reallocation to the county board of supervisors and to route the request through finance in late summer.
Frederick County school staff urged the Buildings & Grounds Committee to pursue a phased installation of artificial turf at high-school multiuse fields, recommending Sherando High School first, then James Wood and Millbrook, with the goal of completing the sequence by the time the new fourth high school opens.
Staff said an evaluation by the district rchitect recommended turf fields and provided an installation order. To fund the first turf project at Sherando, staff proposed shifting project dollars previously earmarked for a Sherando HVAC life-cycle replacement into the turf project now and seeking reallocation of those funds from the county board of supervisors in October.
The chair and other members stressed safety and contingency planning for the HVAC delay. Facilities staff (Mr. Caton) said the Sherando HVAC system is not currently failing and that the department could absorb minor unit failures via operating funds if needed; staff described the HVAC scope as a life-cycle replacement.
Staff outlined a tentative installation timeline: Sherando in summer 2027, James Wood in summer 2028, and Millbrook in summer 2029, with the fourth high school opening with its field installed. Dr. Hummer and staff said the committee ction at this meeting would be to provide consensus to pursue the reallocation process and bring a formal request through the finance committee and to the board of supervisors; no formal funding reallocation was approved at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will take the recommended sequencing through the finance committee in late August/September and present a reallocation request to the board of supervisors in October if the committee wants staff to proceed.
