Residents to Get First Peek at Proposed BOE Fields Plan

The is moving into the new school year with a mission: preparing a at and high schools.

To that end, the district will hold a , 292 Parsippany Road, in order to get input on what types of improvements are wanted by residents.

Late last week, the board sent an invitation to community groups, parent-teacher associations, sports boosters and area residents regarding the special session. All residents, however, may attend.

"The Board of Education will not be taking any action that evening," said a school district statement on the gathering. "Rather, the meeting is an opportunity for the public to provide the [board] with their thoughts about the proposed options that the Board of Education is considering."

Among the improvement suggestions put forward by , are artificial turf football fields for both high schools, along with new track ovals, modernized lighting, improved sound systems, rest rooms, concession stands and dressing rooms for home and away teams.

The stated goal is for construction to begin in summer 2013.

The project as proposed has the potential to be more expensive than the $4.5 million Fields of Dreams plan supported by Mayor James Barberio and youth sports groups earlier this year. How the plan could be funded and what it might mean for taxpayers will be one of the topics discussed Wednesday.

Any plans are subject to a township Planning Board review.

However the final arbiter on what, if anything, is done will be township residents. Wednesday's meeting will give school board members an opportunity to learn what improvements the public will support.