The Clark County Board of Education decided to table a vote concerning choosing synthetic or natural turf for the new George Rogers Clark High School baseball and softball fields in its regular meeting Tuesday.

The board tabled the vote until its next meeting Sept. 24.

The board discussed the various options at length.

According to the memo prepared by RossTarrant Architects, the cost to provide artificial turf for infield and pitcher’s mound in bullpens for both baseball and softball would cost about $180,000.

However, John Hagan Codell, of Codell Construction, who was in the audience Tuesday, told the board he thought that number was low.

Board chair Gordon Parido said if that’s the case, then he would like to see a more firm and precise number. Though, board members were in agreement they were considering choosing artificial turf for the infield. 

For the outfield, the board had a few options: 

— A sod outfield for baseball and softball totaling $66,000 for both

— A sod outfield with a sand slit grid system underneath it to help outfield drainage for both baseball and softball. Cost would bring the total for both fields up to about $296,000

— Artificial turf outfield totaling $1.28 million for baseball and softball fields

The board has the option to use money generated from interest of the gymnasium and athletic fields project to partially fund whatever turf option they decide. Superintendent Paul Christy told the board the dollar amounts the projects had accrued in interest so far, which totaled to about $615,652. 

Money to fund any of the choices would come from the general fund, unless the board decides to use any money from the interest that has accrued to partially or fully fund an option. 

Board member Bill Taulbee said he spoke to a coach from a small town in Texas who said their baseball field was entirely artificial turf. The coach told Taulbee it was the best thing for the school as it had generated additional revenue for their district and the town and the district could host games, rain or shine. 

Taulbee also said he considers the artificial turf on the outfield a long-term investment as it would pay itself off overtime because other options require more maintenance. 

“I look at it as an investment for the community,” he said.

However, Taulbee said he would also like to have more information in regards to the effects choosing artificial turf for the outfield and paying over $1 million for it would have in regards to future projects.

The district is in the process of forming a facility planning committee to assess priorities for future projects, one of which may be a new preschool, which Taulbee said he would like to see done, so if choosing artificial turf for the outfield adversely affected that potential project, he might change his mind. 

“I’m dead set on having a preschool,” he said.

Board member Scott Hisle said after talking with schools in surrounding counties, not one of them had artificial turf on the outfield. He also said the Lexington Legends baseball field is a grass field. He said he would rather be conservative and see the remaining money from the athletic fields project roll into the next project, whatever it may be. 

“I’m reluctant to spend this on baseball,” he said. 

Hisle agreed with Taulbee, though, about wanting more information in regards to a cost-analysis long-term.

Board member Ashley Ritchie said she talked to the baseball coach Tuesday, and during those conversations, the GRC baseball coach said he would prefer an artificial turf infield and would be fine with a sod outfield. 

Parido said he would like to see the fields to where students could play anytime, but the $1 million difference is a major concern. He said the board would have to decide if artificial turf is worth it compared to a sod outfield. 

Ultimately, the board unanimously approved tabling the vote and asked involved parties to return to the board with more information on precise costs, a long-term cost-analysis and more.

In other action, the board: 

— approved private school funding from federal grants funds.

— approved the purchase of two to three regular school buses and one special needs bus for the 2019-2020 school year.

— approved bid for Arrow Coatings building.