The Collinsville school board on Monday approved a $1.14 million contract to add artificial grass and make other improvements to the high school football field.

The board voted 6-1 to have ATG Sports Industries Inc., of Andover, Kan., install artificial grass, fencing and seating as well as to resurface the track. Voting against the plan was Gary Kusmierczak, who is opposed to spending district funds on the project.

The board unanimously voted against paying to install a sidewalk and additional bleachers. Several board members, including Kusmierczak, Gary Peccola, Keith Throm and Wayne White, said they expected private funding to cover the additional work.

"This would be a golden opportunity for fundraising," said Peccola, who is the board president.

Peccola, along with Kusmierczak and Theresa Billy, voted against any items that were in addition to the turf and track. Bid requests for a mascot logo in the center of the field, school lettering in the end zone and a new scoreboard were not considered by the board.

Six people spoke about the project during the public input portion of the meeting. Collinsville resident Jeanne Lomax and Maryville resident Adam Latham, who unsuccessfully ran for school board recently, were opposed to the project's cost. Four people, including high school Principal Eric Flohr and Athletic Director Chris Kusnerick, spoke in favor.

ATG Sports was selected from nine bids submitted to the district. The firm has also installed fields in Edwardsville, O'Fallon, East St. Louis and Waterloo.

Don Bolinger, president of Construction Services, said the company offers an eight-year warranty on all of its work, including the field, track and drainage system, and provides annual maintenance during the lifetime of the warranty.

The field is expected to be in place by the start of next year's football season.