Anonymous
Post 06/23/2015 07:51     Subject: Re:Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:New poster here -- just to clear up some things, this is not a PTA-sponsored activity. It is being headed by the Somerset Foundation which is independent of the PTA. They have lots of great programs, including raising money for other Montgomery County schools in need. I see nothing wrong with the parents of the community wanting to improve the conditions of a field that has had a lot of problems.
There is no health risk of the proposed artificial turf. The cancer-causing tire-containing astroturf that some posters mentioned is well known and is not part of the plan.


Somerset ES even has a Foundation. (As well as all those butlers.)
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2015 06:45     Subject: Somerset ES putting in turf field
The dogs at Somerset ES are treated to better facilities than many students at other schools. Thanks, MCPS.

Anonymous
Post 06/23/2015 05:53     Subject: Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:Imagine how hot an artificial turf field will be today.


Exactly what I was thinking. Ugh.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2015 00:05     Subject: Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:As always, lots of jealous people on this board. If the PTA is raising all of the money, it's really no one else's business. By the way, have you seen Potomac Elementary School? It's probably the most dilapidated elementary school in MCPS. It has continually been put at the bottom of the list for improvements because the county would get a earful from the same people who complain when a PTA raises money for their own student body.


I'm a NP.

Not jealous at all. I much prefer the grass at our school, and honestly would be very concerned about the safety of artificial turf on kids' fields.

Until it's proven completely safe, I'm more than happy to let the rich folks have the turf fields.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/10/09/is-there-a-link-between-artificial-turf-and-cancer-in-soccer-goalies/

+1 I would not want my kids playing on an artificial turf field every day. I'm glad my soccer-playing kids hold regular practice on grass fields.

If your kids do get a scrape on artificial turf, just make sure to scrub it out really well.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 23:41     Subject: Re:Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Can someone confirm please that we can safely continue to walk our dogs on artificial turf?


No, it's not safe. Especially if your dog likes to munch on grass or might be likely to eat some of those rubber pieces. Keep your dog on regular grass/dirt for his well-being.

Dog are not allowed on sport fields.


They are allowed at Wood Acres ES even during recess.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 23:10     Subject: Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

And the Potomac ES completion date has already been pushed back to 2020.


How many years was the Seneca Valley HS project moved back, one year per year, year after year after year? MCPS does not have enough capital funds to do everything that needs to be done.


or pushing back the development of wellness centers for Kennedy, Springbrook and Seneca (in that order, I believe)

won't ever happen

But Somereset will get its turf, damn it!
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 22:52     Subject: Re:Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is the point here?

That rich parents shouldn't allocate their resources towards their children's quality of life?

That schools in poor part of town should have it just as nice or nicer than the rich part of town? If so who pays for that?

Even if the county was paying for it wouldn't the parents be entitled to a little extra after paying extra into the system? This isn't communism for fucks sake.


It is a public school all are welcome to attend so there really shouldn't be any bitterness by the people who choose not to go there. And it is absolutely a choice, you may say that it is so exspencive to live there (plenty of condos) but you are the one who chose not to study, work harder or picked the right entry position etc. going down the line. What did you think would happen when you moved to less affluent parts of town? What do you think affluent means and how does that manifest its self in application. News flash, somerset is a nice place to life if you can swing it.


This post is so ridiculous where can I begin?

Isn't public education supposed to be equal for all students? Sure the area is affluent but if the families aren't happy with what the public school can provide, shouldn't they be considering sending their kids to private schools? The Board of Education has been discussing for years the discrepancies between schools that arise from large donations by PTA and School Foundations to individual schools.

The underlying issue about private groups like MSI is they "donate" large sums of money then expect to get preferential timeslots for public use of the fields. Their donations come with strings attached and then use the pubic school fields for a profit making enterprise. It is unclear from OP's post if MSI is behind the scheme to fund artificial turf at Somerset but they were in back door talks at Churchill High School last year. Everything was "approved" before anyone in the community knew what was going on and there was a pubic outcry after the fact. The artificial turf field subsequently has not been built and there is no word when and if it will. I hope it never will be if nothing else because of the lack of transparency behind the deal and the heath effects those types of fields cause kids. Besides the cancer issue, artificial turf fields are less forgiving and lead to more concussions and orthopedic injuries than regular grass fields.



Life is a series of quid pro quo, why are people surprised when people who foot the bill are given access and audience before and after the fact? If you only had time for 4 meetings why would you book people who brought nothing to the table to negotiate with?


Some of us think there are some things that shouldn't be for sale. MSI wants to buy or rent private land and build soccer fields? That's fine. MSI wants to use public lands for their soccer league, and get preferential treatment in scheduling? Not so much.


My DS started Kindergarten at Potomac Elementary in 2001. Apparently, PES was due for a renovation before that but the current PES parents at the time were so obnoxious that the BOD kicked PES to the back of the line. The word was that PES would renovated in 2016....that was said back in 2001. At the time, it seemed preposterous but here we are. My DS is starting his 2nd year in college and still no renovation. Whatever the hell those parents did back then must have been unbelievably awful. So sad.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 22:32     Subject: Re:Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:
Can someone confirm please that we can safely continue to walk our dogs on artificial turf?


No, it's not safe. Especially if your dog likes to munch on grass or might be likely to eat some of those rubber pieces. Keep your dog on regular grass/dirt for his well-being.

Dog are not allowed on sport fields.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 22:24     Subject: Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:Don"t those cause cancer? I thought that was the latest buzz.


Don't tell the schools in the southwest and CA that! Or college and nfl stadiums that also have it.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 21:30     Subject: Re:Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:

Life is a series of quid pro quo, why are people surprised when people who foot the bill are given access and audience before and after the fact? If you only had time for 4 meetings why would you book people who brought nothing to the table to negotiate with?


+1. You see this all the time with private companies building toll roads or do I even bring up the Pearson deal for Montgomery County curriculum. The local government says it doesn't have the money to do it or would have to raise taxes to an unacceptable level to fund it so they seek out these public/private deals. While I can agree with the poster about transparency in these deals where a group donates/helps build in order to get preferential scheduling, I actually don't have an issue with it being MSI. I think MSI usually loses out to the other private soccer clubs on these type of things. I feel like the $84 dollars to sign up with MSI plus the used equipment swaps/program, and Manna Food Bank donation make MSI more part of the community and more accessible to different socio-economic groups than a soccer club that costs $3000/year that donates the money to get the preferential scheduling on a new turf field.

Anyway all moot since I don't know if the Somerset PTA only received money from families or if outside money/preferential scheduling is part of the deal.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 20:00     Subject: Re:Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:New poster here -- just to clear up some things, this is not a PTA-sponsored activity. It is being headed by the Somerset Foundation which is independent of the PTA. They have lots of great programs, including raising money for other Montgomery County schools in need. I see nothing wrong with the parents of the community wanting to improve the conditions of a field that has had a lot of problems.
There is no health risk of the proposed artificial turf. The cancer-causing tire-containing astroturf that some posters mentioned is well known and is not part of the plan.


Can you clear up what material will be used for the proposed artificial turf?
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 19:21     Subject: Re:Somerset ES putting in turf field
New poster here -- just to clear up some things, this is not a PTA-sponsored activity. It is being headed by the Somerset Foundation which is independent of the PTA. They have lots of great programs, including raising money for other Montgomery County schools in need. I see nothing wrong with the parents of the community wanting to improve the conditions of a field that has had a lot of problems.
There is no health risk of the proposed artificial turf. The cancer-causing tire-containing astroturf that some posters mentioned is well known and is not part of the plan.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 14:20     Subject: Somerset ES putting in turf field
Imagine how hot an artificial turf field will be today.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 13:57     Subject: Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:Can someone confirm please that we can safely continue to walk our dogs on artificial turf?


No, it's not safe. Especially if your dog likes to munch on grass or might be likely to eat some of those rubber pieces. Keep your dog on regular grass/dirt for his well-being.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2015 13:56     Subject: Somerset ES putting in turf field
Anonymous wrote:Turf fields are safe you brain dead conspiracy theorists.


Written by the CEO of Astroturf or FieldTurf.