Pine-Richland Stadium's worn turf -- the subject of safety concerns -- will be replaced at a cost of $382,708.

The Pine-Richland school board voted unanimously Tuesday to award the contract to replace the synthetic turf to low bidder ProGrass, headquartered in Pittsburgh. The company has installed turf at Mars Area High School, Peters Township High School and California University of Pennsylvania.

Athletic Director Clair Altemus told the board that eight companies had made presentations before bids were requested.

The turf developed by ProGrass "plays well and has longevity to it," said Mr. Altemus. It comes with an eight-year warranty.

Considerable discussion centered on how to line the field that is used for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey. The base bid included permanent lines for football and soccer. "Tic" marks are used to indicate where the lacrosse and field hockey lines belong, then the lines are sprayed on for games with a water-soluble paint.

A proposal to add permanent lines for all sports would have cost an additional $18,554, and the board voted 7-2 against it. Board members Aafke Loney and Dennis Sundo voted yes.

Field hockey head coach Donna Stephenson cited Title IX as she asked the board to include permanent in-laid lines on the turf for field hockey instead of the spray-painted lines that fade. Title IX, a law passed in 1972, requires equity for boys and girls in educational programs that receive federal funding, including athletic programs and facilities.

Wayne Juchno, a parent and member of the Pine-Richland boys high school lacrosse club, also sent an e-mail to the board requesting lines for competitive lacrosse games.