Thanks to our collective voice, the school district is moving in the right direction! They are officially introducing a natural grass pilot program and considering a turf moratorium for elementary schools. This is a massive update, but we need to ensure the final criteria truly prioritize child safety.

Here is what we are asking the district to refine ahead of the Thursday, June 18th Board Meeting (Agenda Item E. 3.):

🧒 1. Protect Our Littlest Students (TK & K Yards)
The current proposal carves out "fall-protection zones," using them as a loophole to carpet entire TK and Pre-K play yards in plastic. While impact safety cushioning is critical and mandated directly under play structures, SMMUSD has cooler, natural options like Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF). Additionally, needing impact safety under a play structure is absolutely no excuse to cover the remaining 90% of a play yard in synthetic grass. This past weekend, parent volunteers clocked plastic turf at a local TK yard at a blistering 140°F, hot enough to cause severe, second-degree burns in seconds. We are demanding immediate remediation of these spaces before school starts this fall, including the complete removal of synthetic turf from all surfaces where our youngest students play. Our kids shouldn't be playing on surfaces that get hotter than asphalt.

🚫 2. No New Turf— Anywhere on Campus
Right now, the proposed moratorium only covers "play fields," leaving a major loophole. Paving play yards, flower beds, landscaping, and pickup zones with plastic grass makes no sense. There is no sports-related excuse for fake grass in these areas, so the moratorium must explicitly cover all synthetic surfaces campus-wide.

🌿 3. Commit to a Productive Grass Pilot
We are thrilled SMMUSD has consulted with a turfgrass specialist to establish the pilot program. To ensure this trial yields the most valuable scientific information, we urge the district to build on this foundation by bringing in a range of land care, soil, and water conservation specialists. By gathering diverse expert perspectives to evaluate different cultivars and management methods side-by-side, we can design a successful pilot that answers how we cultivate natural grass to be as safe, resilient, and water-efficient as possible—rather than debating if we can do it.

📣 HOW TO TAKE ACTION THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 18th!
The school board needs to hear our constructive, safety-focused feedback before they finalize these terms. Let's make our voices heard!

📅 When: Thursday, June 18, 2026
🗣️ Speak in Person: Sign up for a comment card before the meeting begins to share your thoughts during the public comment period for Agenda Item E. 3.
📧 Submit an Email Comment: Send your written thoughts to the Board ahead of the meeting using the key points above as your guide. Make sure to put "Agenda Item E. 3." in your subject line!  Use our action toolkit for inspiration and information.

Let's work together to ensure SMMUSD campuses are safe, cool, and green for all of our children! 💚🌍