Board directs staff to move forward with Franklin grass pilot and draft moratorium language on new elementary turf

Following extensive public comment, the board directed staff to press ahead with a natural-grass pilot at Franklin Elementary and to draft moratorium language for new synthetic turf installations at district elementary campuses. Staff described the pilot build: removal of existing compacted soil to a roughly 6" root zone, new drainage, Bermuda grass overseeded with perennial rye for coastal wear tolerance, and contractor-funded maintenance during the initial 18-month pilot. Chief Operating Officer Carrie Upton said the incremental cost to upgrade the planned temporary installation to a managed pilot would be "close to $500,000," largely for soil removal and drainage work, plus an estimated $60,000-65,000 in maintenance costs to ensure establishment.

The board asked staff to design a study that will compare use hours, surface temperatures, maintenance costs, injury metrics (GMAX testing), and chemical sampling across a set of representative natural grass and synthetic surfaces in the district. Dr. James Baird, turfgrass specialist at UC Riverside, advised creating appropriate root-zone mixtures, drainage and a maintenance/play schedule that includes rest days and periodic rehabilitation; he suggested a hybrid fertilizer approach because organic-only applications may not release nutrients fast enough during cooler months. Staff said it will implement temperature and usage monitoring and chemical sampling as part of the pilot and will return with contract amendments and a fuller comparison across sites.