Breaking: Whitman HS Artificial Turf Field has Failed. 3 Yr Old Field not draining at required rate, infill must be removed.

Whitman High School's $1.3 million dollar artificial turf football field has failed. 

MSI Soccer put in this field, who is on the hook to make required repairs? Will the warranty cover what is needed to make the field usable again?  What is the mystery infill that MCPS now claims has "exceptional results?" 

Whitman High School's artificial turf field used IDA ORE infill. 

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On Thursday, February 10, 2022, 4:36 PM, Robert Dodd  wrote:

Dear Walt Whitman High School Community Members,

This message was developed in collaboration with the MCPS Division of Construction. The purpose of this message is to provide our community with both an update on the repair of the Walt Whitman High School (WHHS) artificial turf field and an outline on the reopening of the field. 

As many are aware, the WWHS artificial turf field system consists of multiple components, which include organic infill, the artificial field carpet, and an underdrainage system. Over the past three years, MCPS has maintained the artificial field consistent with warranty requirements. A link to the Artificial Turf Fields Program and artificial turf maintenance logs can be accessed at: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/athletics/programs/default/542923/

Even with the required maintenance over the last three years, the turf system has failed and is not draining at the rate required to make the surface playable after a rain event. MCPS is pursuing this failure as a condition of warranty and is coordinating with the contractor and manufacturer to make appropriate repairs to restore the field to full compliance. The approach to repairing the field will include removing the original organic infill and sand mixture and utilizing a newer organic infill that MCPS has recently been installing. MCPS has found that this new infill has produced exceptional results. 

The timeline of these repairs is contingent on the availability of specialized equipment as well as securing the infill material. Once the work begins, we anticipate a 3 to 4 week period to make the appropriate repairs. The timing of this work will compromise the beginning of spring sports. That said, our goal continues to be to have the turf field open as soon as possible during the spring season. MCPS Athletics is working with us to ensure that our student-athletes are impacted to the minimal amount possible as this work occurs. We will share specific changes to practice and contest locations and schedules within the next week.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of the Whitman community and look forward to reopening the field, once the necessary repairs have been completed. We will keep you updated once the repairs have begun. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Dodd, EdD

Principal

Walt Whitman High School

Kitty Litter/Zeolite Dust Cloud at the New Whitman HS Artificial Turf Football Field. Play Ball, But Don't Breathe.

The dust you see in this video is the kitty litter/zeolite infill that the Montgomery County Board of Education now requires on all artificial turf football fields. Kitty litter/zeolite degrades and becomes dust. That is why it is considered a health hazard.

Good luck students.

**BOE Finds $562,721 for Plastic Grass at RM High School.** Not Money for Teachers, Classrooms, Lead Remediation, Mold Remediation, Repairs, Grass Seed... BOE Intentionally Let Warranty EXPIRE! Did Council Appropriate these Funds for this Purpose?

The Montgomery County Board of Education intentionally let the warranty on the defective Richard Montgomery High School artificial turf field expire and now they are going to use $562,721 of Operating Budget funds to replace this one plastic football field. 

The MCPS Real Estate department has been squirreling aways cash.  This money will be used to buy a new plastic field for Richard Montgomery High School.  Those funds are not listed in the MCPS Operating Budget documents in any discoverable location.  The image to the left shows the only mention of this fund in the FY19 MCPS Operating Budget.

Note that the Resolution (below) before the Board of Education on June 25, 2018, does not mention any approriation of these funds by the County Council.

The money in this "fund" has allegedly come in to MCPS through outside sources and is being immediately diverted to pay for plastic football fields without any discussion of the best use of these public school dollars. 

Probably the biggest source of cash for this fund is coming from Cell Tower revenue. 

That means that the high FARMS rate schools that have cell towers on their playgrounds and fields are paying for the plastic grass purchase at Richard Montgomery High School.  

In addition, MCPS has used Field Trip fees to fund Artificial Turf purchases. 

Remember that the actual Artificial Turf PLAN was that these fields would pay for themselves through field rental fees.  That has not happened. 

The Board of Education has not provided the public with an accounting for the funds being used to pay for the Richard Montgomery High School artificial turf field replacement nor are they bringing these outside funds before the County Council for appropriation. 

The failure to present a transparent budget Resolution to the public is on the Board of Education members four of whom are candidates in this year's elections. 

   Award Cont Replace Turf Richard Montgomery HS by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd