COLLINSVILLE • Officials reaffirmed on Monday an earlier vote approving the bid process for an overhaul of the Collinsville High School athletic field, including laying artificial turf and adding new bleachers and a scoreboard.

The issue received the second vote from the Collinsville School Board after concerns that May's vote may have violated open meetings laws.

As with the last vote, the board voted 6-1 in favor of spending up to $1.3 million for the project. Board member Gary Kusmierczak voted against the proposal after giving a presentation showing the project could cost more than expected.

Board member Wayne White said the turf on the field is a safety issue. "The current field cannot hold up to the wear and tear (of a season's worth of games) and maintain a safe playing surface," White said. "This is a need, not a want."

The meeting began with comments from supporters of Collinsville High School and Twin Echo Elementary School, who have been pitted against each other over the project. Twin Echo parent Kristen Poshard-Lech said money should be used on other needs, such as an addition to Twin Echo's building. Some students there attend class in portable units.

Former school board member Bill Jokerst said spending money on artificial grass right now would be frivolous.

"I just hope the new board will put academics before athletics," he said, "not just in words but in actions."

Collinsville High School Football Coach Mike Liljegren said about $100,000 was spent on resodding the field over the last three years. The artificial grass would be used for much longer and would cost less to maintain, he said.

"As a taxpayer, for what we get for our bucks, that's not worth it," he said. "This is a worthwhile project. And the money is there, so we should go for it."

In the middle of the meeting, several elementary school children carrying plastic buckets walked onto the stage where the school board members were seated, asking for donations. Poshard-Lech said cash-strapped Twin Echo used money collected in the buckets to buy supplies. Officials asked that the students be escorted from the stage.

While the turf is needed, Eric Jackstadt said he didn't like how the debate pitted the needs of Collinsville High above those at Twin Echo.

"Has anyone said both cannot be done?" he asked. "A football field for the Kahoks doesn't mean Twin Echo has to go without."