Jim Thorpe picks green turf

Jim Thorpe school board members have decided — the district’s new artificial turf field will be green in color.

They have also approved a 12-year sponsorship agreement with Lehigh Valley Health Network, which board members say is worth more than $1 million total when in-kind services are included.

At a special meeting Monday night, school board members answered the question which has inspired a friendly competition in the district in the last few weeks: Red turf, or green.

“It’s been crazy — I think every class discussion has started with “What color do you guys want?” said William Schwartz, a senior at Jim Thorpe Area High School.

In an online survey which ended Monday, a majority of Jim Thorpe high school students and staff preferred the green field, but community members said they preferred red.

In the end the vote was 7-1 for green. TJ Garritano voted for red and Dennis McGinley was absent.

The 12-year sponsorship agreement with Lehigh Valley Health Network will net the district $685,000 as well as in-kind services which board members say are worth even more.

Raniero Marciante was the lone no vote against the contract.

The $1 million figure comes from factoring in savings from other benefits included with the contract, according to board member Paul Montemuro.

Lehigh Valley Health Network has agreed to provide — at no cost — a year-round athletic trainer, a physician at home football games, and all preseason physicals. Montemuro said that those services combined currently cost the district more than $27,000 per year.

The health network will also provide ImPact Testing, care coordination, sports performance specialists, sports therapy and school physician services.

The network plans to hold wellness programs and workshops in the school district which will be available to students at no cost.

In exchange, Lehigh Valley will be able to advertise its brand on the school’s athletic facilities, programs and tickets, sporting equipment, trophy presentations, press releases and social media. They will be designated as the school’s official health care provider.

Terrence Purcell, president of Lehigh Valley Hospital - Carbon, said the partnership will benefit the entire district.

“The sports medicine program is going to be outstanding, but what was important to us, we wanted to do more than just an athletic program. We wanted to take care of every single student, faculty member and person who works in administration,” he said.

Montemuro said the artificial turf will save the district $54,000 per year on field maintenance.

The turf field will cost $1.7 million, and is expected to be completed in time for the fall 2020 season. Monday’s special meeting was scheduled so the project could get underway.

The district expects to host as many as 72 games per year on the field — including boys and girls soccer and junior high football.

Last year, mud and drainage issues forced the district to move scheduled soccer and junior high games to other fields.

Board member Scott Pompa said he was delighted with the way the community embraced the process of choosing a color for the field.

“You can’t go anywhere without people saying, ‘red’ or ‘green.’ The entire school district community has gotten involved with this — it’s amazing,” he said.

There were separate online surveys for students, staff, and the public.

Students and staff both said they preferred a green field.

The public voted in favor of a red field. Board member Pearl Sheckler pointed out that that survey wasn’t as scientific because there was no limit to how many times someone could vote.

“The problem with the survey is the ones for the public, you could sit and vote as many times as you want. The students could only vote once,” she said.

Schwartz and Olivia Wolfe, a junior, announced the survey results prior to the vote. They both liked green. They said there were rumors in school that the football team, whose defense is known as the “Red Swarm,” would have to change from their red home uniforms if they played on a red field.

“I’m excited to see the football players and the soccer team play on it,” Wolfe said. “It’s not going to be ruined with mud and water, and that was definitely a big part of our football and our soccer season. ”