By the beginning of the 2021-22 football season, McAlpine Stadium will have a state-of-the-art field turf.
Marlboro County Board of Education approved the turf 6-3 at the March board meeting on Monday.
Board Secretary Katherine Manville and board members Jackie Branch and Reginald Gaymon voted no.
The cost of the installation will be between $850,000 and $950,000 and will be funded using the proceeds from the 2020C for Capital Projects. This money was generated from savings from the IPRB refunding. 
Any additional funding required will come from the district’s fall 2021 SCAGO GO Program for Capital Projects.
Superintendent Dr. Gregory McCord made a presentation about the pros and cons of a synthetic field.
The synthetic field will offer community access 24-7, no closing field due to rain, venue for school/community/recreation dept. activities, competition hosting, etc. 
McCord said it will have the ability to offer increased interscholastic activities such as girls/boys soccer, girls/boys lacrosse, field hockey, rugby, girls/boys track and field.
He added the possibilities are endless.
Synthetic fields save money in the long run in some of the following ways: no water, pesticides/fertilizer needed, no contaminated stormwater runoff, beautiful backdrop for graduation exercises, endures high traffic from every sport and easy to maintain, plus the field is always painted and ready.
Work for the project will begin after graduation in June.
After the presentation, Vice Chairman Michael Coachman felt this would be a once in the lifetime opportunity for the children in the county.
But wanted to make sure all other obligations would be met.
Board member Danny Driggers was concerned with other needs like air conditioning units for the MCHS would not be met.
McCord said in the ESSER II funding there is a category to improve air quality control in buildings. This includes roofing, HVAC, windows, doors, and anything that deals with controlling air quality.
“It is a priority,” McCord said. “Work is being done daily”
Gaymon felt the county has more pressing needs as far as facilities. 
“Our kids don’t have a place to go after school or the summertime,” he said “I think the football field is great but I feel we have more pressing needs.”
McCord agreed that many pressing needs go beyond the walls of the school.
Flowers asked if they were to invest almost $1 million in the field what would the annual cost be.
McCord said the field would have a 10-13 year lifespan with the annual cost being minimal.

    ESPAA
The members of the Eastside School Preservation Alumni Association presented their copies of their quarterly report to board members. 
ESPAA had asked the board to delay deciding on what to do with Eastside School for one year.
E.L. Johnakin, the ESPAA designated correspondent, said everything was moving along.” 
He noted there were some challenges with both buildings neglected.
“The bottom line is we are going to keep working. We want your support. We can make this happen. Funding is not going to be the big deal you think it is.”

Forensic Audit
Dr. McCord presented information about the audit from a Freedom of Information Act request about the cost of it.
Forensic Strategic Solutions conducted the forensic audit and found no irregularities or misappropriation of the $10 million bond referendum funds.
The total cost of the audit was $29,964.25.
The audit was $17,613 and legal fees from Story, White were $7,351.25.

   Other business
In other business, board members:
— approved the lease agreement with the town of Clio for the old School of Discovery.
— approved one new hire and one resignation.
— approved the second reading of the MCSD academic calendar for the 2021-22 school year.
— approved first reading of board policies CBD Superintendent’s Contract; DB Annual Budget; DBJ Budget Transfer; DC Taxing and Borrowing; DD Funding Proposals, Grants, and Special Projects; DDA Federal Fiscal Compliance; DDB Online Fundraising Campaigns/Crowdfunding; DDB-R Online Fundraising Campaigns/Crowdfunding; DFAC Fund Balance; DGA Authorized Signatures; DHA Contracting Authority; DID Inventories/Fixed Assets; DJ Purchasing; DKA Payroll Procedures/Schedules; DKC Expense Authorization/Reimbursement; DN School Properties Disposition; EBAB Hazardous Materials; EBC-R(1) Remote Work; EBC-R(2) Remote Instruction; EBC-R(3) Virtual Board Meetings; ECAA-R Threat Assessment; EEA Student Transportation; EEAE-R Bus Safety Program; EFE Competitive Food Sales/Vending Machines; FF Naming Facilities.
— learned the district had expended, as of Feb. 25, $17,239,512.56 of a $34,818,102 budget or 50 percent of the budget. Ideally, the district should be at 67 percent of the budget spent.