An update on the proposal to install artificial turf at the Chesterton High School football field will be given at the Duneland School Board meeting Monday.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. at the Administration Center, 601 W. Morgan Ave., Chesterton. Normally, the board meets on the first Monday of the month, but rescheduled this month’s meeting to May 16.

At the last meeting, members of the Friends of Duneland Youth, a new non-profit group, outlined a school-community partnership to install artificial turf, which they said would reduce field maintenance costs and open the field to more programming for the Duneland Schools as well as the community. With the natural field now, the CHS field must close periodically due to drainage or other maintenance needs, which has limited use of the field and canceled events.

Cost estimates given at the last school board meeting put the total cost at roughly $800,000. The Friends of Duneland Youth said they intend to launch an aggressive fundraising campaign to reduce the costs to the school system. The funding for the project, if approved, would likely come from the Capital Projects Fund, which is funded by local property taxes.

The school board tabled a decision on the turf project but directed the Friends to return to this month’s meeting with more specific cost estimates, including the amount that the Friends would contribute.

Other agenda items for the school board include the annual Duneland Education Foundation scholarship raffle, a proposal from the Flora Richardson Foundation, a presentation by Jackson Elementary School, and approval of the bids for the Westchester Intermediate School renovation project.

Posted 5/13/2011