The Bethlehem Area School Board touched on the more-than-$4.5 million turf field project for both Freedom HS, and a BASD field and track for the second week in a row Monday evening at the human resources committee meeting.

Many points have been made the last two weeks at BASD board meetings regarding the potential purchase of a new track and field at two different locations. The main concern about the natural grass option is the maintenance it would take for upkeep. If the board was to go that route and bid a natural turf field, members say they would be inclined to hire a full-time staff to maintain the field. Also, a counterargument that the synthetic turf supporters offered is the amount of pesticides that would be needed for upkeep on a grass field. Their argument is there have been reports of these chemicals causing cancer.

Board President Michael Faccinetto spoke briefly about the process in which potential field options have been considred.

“We did not discuss a natural turf because we didn’t think it was a viable option due to the usage (of the field),” he said. “We tried to pick the ones that gave the best stability and would be safest for the athletes.”

Board member Tom Thomasik pointed out what he considers a bigger issue in the BASD. He noted the number one problem in the district is reading and literacy.

“My thoughts lead me to ask this question: How does spending over $4.5 million on artificial turf fix our number one problem?” he asked.

Thomasik said he doesn’t believe the board should scrap the project, but he insists they spend taxpayers’ money on the bigger issue.

“I just don’t see grass as a feasible option, and not doing anything isn’t an option,” said board member Craig Neiman in response to Thomasik.

Member Angela Sinkler continued to hold her ground regarding the issue.

“’Everybody else doing it’ is not good enough for me,” she said about installing artificial turf. She told the board she couldn’t ignore the lists of athletes with cancer who have played on synthetic turf.

Sinkler also believes there should be guidelines available for Bethlehem Area student-athletes when it comes to synthetic turf. For example, when a BASD team travels to a school with turf, the athletes should be instructed to turn their clothes inside out after the game is completed, and to not allow rubber particles from the track or turf backing to get into water bottles, so that they can avoid ingestion.

Not all board members have decided which way their vote will go at the Feb. 22 regular board meeting.

“I still haven’t made up my mind, I’m weighing a lot of things,” said board member Eugene McKeon. “I’ve got a 32-year-old at home who is partially disabled.” McKeon believes his son’s disability may or may not have been a result of falsified medical testing, so he is hesitant and plans to put careful thought into his decision before the vote.