A debate about what to do with Glen Lake Community Schools’ football field has parents and residents picking sides.

Glen Lake Board President Fran Seymour says the district faces three options with its aging field that retains too much water: Do very little, completely reseed, or install artificial turf.

Seymour says the first option would require an investment of just $10,000-20,000 and get it in usable condition for the 2017-18 school year, but would provide the school with the least benefit. The district estimates it would take $400,000 to properly reseed the field, which would still require a lot of maintenance.

The third option, artificial turf, would represent a much bigger investment, but would allow the field to be used for multiple purposes. At a meeting Monday, Scott Jozwiak of Jozwiak Consulting recommended a bid by Astroturf of $839,488.

Greg Guilbeau, who supports converting the field to artificial turf, is the parent of both a junior and a Glen Lake graduate. He says it is important to take into consideration the multiple ways the field is used. “It’s not just five football games. There are Pop Warner, middle school JV and varsity games,” says Guilbeau. “Beyond that, there’s outdoor recreation, gym classes. At track events they use it to warm up.”

Seymour says conditions in late fall and early spring can make a natural grass field unusable. “If it’s wet and muddy or there’s snow, you lose practice opportunities and games or matches,” he says. With artificial turf, you can even snow-blow or plow the field.

Timothy Young, who has two children at the school, is on the other side of the field. Young cites his research into health concerns with turf, as well as the cost. “Tire crumb is laden with really toxic stuff,” Young says.

The infill used between the blades of turf to provide cushioning is typically made from crushed and ground tires. Though no studies have yet proven it to be harmful, there are anecdotal instances of cancers which may be related to the infill. That could potentially be addressed by using another type of infill; Jozwiak noted in his presentation that Nike Grind, made primarily from recycled athletic shoes, could be an alternative, though at a higher cost.

The debate has prompted online petitions at AVAAZ.org touting both sides of the issue, though Seymour says he believes it is important to work with those people who actually attend public meetings, and says he “wishes more people actually did so.”

Young says he anticipates the board will approve the installation of artificial turf and, though he disagrees with such a decision, he has been pleased that the board studied the options and presented them to the public. “The school board ran a really good meeting. They’re not hiding behind false data. It’s still a lot of money.”

Seymour says he expects the board to make a final decision at its June 12 meeting.

Meanwhile a change at another local school district has also prompted debate and an online petition. Following its regular review of school uniform policy, Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools (GTACS) implemented some changes, including discontinuing some previously accepted colors and changing vendors (from Land’s End to Dennis Uniform). Some parents were unhappy, alleging that the new clothes were uncomfortable, did not fit well, or were too expensive; an online petition was created at change.org.

Dr. Erick Chittle, principal of St. Francis High School, points out that the changes were made with input from parents, faculty/staff, pastors and others, and that the district encourages any GTACS family with concerns to schedule an appointment with their school principal or with him.