Much of the discussion at a forum Monday on a new Mt. Ararat High School revolved around the proposed $736,000 synthetic turf field and the costs of maintaining the proposed athletic fields.

Four Mt. Ararat High School seniors — Laura Secone, Magan Thomas-Copland, Haley Frizzle and Karlie Brillant — took turns reading a letter in support of synthetic turf. They argued it has superior traction, a more consistent playing surface, permanent field lines, doesn’t require mowing and is cheaper than grass in the long run.

Synthetic turf fields allow athletes to play in inclement weather and get outside earlier in the spring. They can also be plowed, Secone said. There are currently 16 high schools in Maine with turf field and more than 11,000 in the U.S.

“We can host more events with a turf facility, allowing for more spectators, more interest in our school for hosting various sporting events, and the added revenue that comes with hosting can be put toward various items that we will need in the future,” Secone said.

Brillant said there are 600 student-athletes in a school of 800 students.

“There comes a point where our games needs to be faster to keep up with the growing world of athletics, and that means turf,” she said.

“We have the option to build an amazing school, so let’s do it right,” Brillant said.

Under the proposed project, the existing Mt. Ararat High School would be demolished. A wide track and athletic field would go in its place, said Lyndon Keck of PDT Architects. A new baseball and new multi-purpose field would be constructed. A softball and practice football field will also receive improvements as part of the project.

Keck said the new school will be built on the site of the current track and field. Construction would start in 2018 and the school would be occupied by 2020.

Superintendent Brad Smith told the public that the state-funded portion of the project will probably total $50 million to $55 million. A list of several potential extra items not covered by state funding — including geothermal heating, additional parking and eight additional classrooms — total nearly $8 million.

Smith said the district will need to have a project budget approved by the state Department of Education that will identify the different funding sources before going to referendum, which will probably take place around March 2017.

In response to a question posed by David Douglass of Topsham, Keck said it would cost between $400,000- $500,000 to replace the synthetic turf field at the end of its 12-year projected life span.

Douglass had noted it may take 20 years to pay off an $8 million bond.

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