Turf field replacement to get underway this week

With the CHS fall sports season almost completed and no further home playoff or football games scheduled, the School Department has decided to begin renovations to the CHS turf field this week.

As a result of the construction, the public will not be able to use the field or track for at least a month and maybe longer, depending on weather conditions. In addition, the CHS gymnasium floor will be refinished in two phases beginning this week.

CHS Athletic Director Danny Erickson noted on his athletics blog that the existing turf is more than 11 years old and has done a “tremendous job” in meeting the needs of thousands of athletes and residents during that time. “This new state-of-the-art surface will provide a grass-like playing surface with amazing durability and usage potential,” Erickson said.

School Business Administrator Berry Nectow said the new surface will be an improvement over the current surface and represents the latest in artificial turf technology. He expects the new surface will last 10 to 12 years.

Work on the turf field was expected to begin yesterday, November 9, and continue through early December. Repairs to the track that surrounds the field will be made after the CHS graduation in the late spring.

As for the CHS gym refinishing, the first phase was slated to begin today, November 10, and continue through November 20. The second phase is scheduled for November 26 to December 5.

CHS basketball tryouts for all levels will either be held at the Galvin Middle School or students will be bused to the Mass Premier Courts in Foxboro. The School Department will pay for the cost of transportation.

Both projects were endorsed by voters at the 2016 town meeting as part of the school district’s capital plan.

Moving on to the next fiscal year, the School Committee is expected to discuss the FY18 capital plan at its next meeting and also set preliminary guidelines for the operating budget now that meetings have begun between new School Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Fischer-Mueller and the finance subcommittee of the School Committee. At the November 3 meeting, School Committee member Reuki Schutt asked Fischer-Mueller to provide a justification for all spending proposals even it appears that the committee has supported the programs in the past. “Explain the reasoning so we can explain it to the public,” said Schutt.

In other news from the November 3 meeting:

* Fischer-Mueller reported that as of November 10, 380 people had completed her online entry plan survey. The superintendent will next meet with parents/guardians of CHS students on November 15 at 7 p.m. in the CHS library and parents of not-yet-school-aged children on November 22 at 6 p.m. at the Canton Public Library. A forum for GMS parents will be held at a later date …

See this week’s Canton Citizen to read the full version of this story. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today (also available in digital form).

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=34741

Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 11 2016. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.