Plans to replace the 14-year-old field turf at Upper Perkiomen High School took a definitive turn. Last week, school board Member JP Prego reminded his colleagues that the project is inevitable.

            "The fields are coming to the end of their natural life," Prego said during the Oct. 18 workshop meeting. "We need to start planning ahead."

            After the meeting, Prego described his comments during the committee reports portion of the meeting as the first step in the process. The facilities committee chair, who added that the fields in Keeny and Tribe Stadium are not unsafe, could not predict how much the replacement would cost, or when it would occur.

            A test of both surfaces, conducted by an Exton company this summer, determined them to be in fair and good condition, respectively. TurfAssist tested both fields in July by dropping a 20-pound impacting missile from a height of twenty-four inches three times at 10 test point locations in order to evaluate the shock-absorbing characteristics of the synthetic turf playing surface, according to multiple documents obtained from Prego.

            The turf service determined the field, described as well-maintained overall, inside the football stadium is in fair condition due to its age and is starting to show some normal wear and tear. It also contains some dips.

            It also states that the field's infill levels are within range and consistent and that its unit of Gmax levels, the hardness of a surface and the risk of injury to athletes, are within a safe and appropriate range.

            The auxiliary field is described as being well maintained and in good condition with no noticeable rips or tears and no fading lines. It identifies the infill and Gmax levels as within appropriate ranges.

            The company recommended that the district continue routine maintenance, clean annually and groom both fields, installed during the summer of 2010, after between 80 and 100 hours of usage. It also suggests conducting team practice at both ends of the auxiliary field.

            Last week, board President Melanie Cunningham announced that the district has allocated $170,000 for the project. The members previously committed to set aside $70,000 per year for turf field replacement, which last occurred as part of the 2021-22 school budget. A projected budget deficit during the two ensuing years prevented that allocation, according to an email message from Cunningham.

            However, the district's business administrator confirmed, more than two years ago, that significantly more had been set aside for the replacement. In June 2022, former Business Administrator Dan Direso sent the Town and Country an email stating that "just under $753,000" has been "allocated for the new fields."

            According to an email message from spokesperson Alexis Jenofsky, the district currently has $9.2 million in capital reserve. It states that the board is discussing several projects and the need to prioritize how the district is going to move forward.

            In November 2009, the school board voted to approve the installation of the fields at a cost of more than $1.6 million. At the time, administrators estimated the eventual cost of replacing the fields, predicted to be 2020, at approximately $700,000.

            In personnel news, the members voted to accept the resignations of Craig Howard, the director of facilities and operations; paraprofessional Michelle Collins, Alison Johnson, a certified school nurse effective Dec. 20 and Aimee Mutter, an administrative assistant, effective Nov. 4. They also voted to appoint Colleen Klaric, a reading specialist, for the current school year.

            The board also approved a leave of absence for Kelly Rorvik, beginning Nov. 27 through Dec. 12 and intermittently thereafter. It approved the addition of Devon Green, Paul Dembrowski and Eric Skochko, Jr. to the Krise staff for the current school year.

            According to Solicitor Kyle Somers, the board met in executive session immediately prior to the public meeting to discuss a personnel item regarding an administrative employee and a matter of collective bargaining.