The Governor Wentworth Regional School District (GWRSD) School Board meeting on April 7, 2025, focused heavily on the contentious issue of the AstroTurf field at Kingswood Regional High School. Community members expressed concerns about the transparency and decision-making process surrounding the field's replacement.

A key speaker criticized the school administration for a lack of transparency, claiming that the information provided to the board and the public was incomplete and misleading. The speaker outlined a timeline of events, highlighting that an independent testing of the AstroTurf for toxins was unanimously approved in September 2024, yet the results were not available when the board made critical decisions in subsequent meetings.

The speaker pointed out that a contract for the new turf was signed by the superintendent on February 17, 2025, before the board received all necessary testing results. This raised alarms about the safety of the current field, especially given that the G Max testing, which measures the shock absorbency of the turf, had not been adequately conducted. The speaker emphasized that the G Max score should be a significant factor in determining the field's safety for student use.

Concerns were also raised about the materials used in the new turf, particularly regarding the presence of microplastics. The speaker urged the board to consider alternative materials that do not contain harmful substances.

The meeting underscored the community's desire for a more transparent process in decision-making, especially when it comes to the health and safety of students. As discussions continue, the board faces pressure to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and that the best interests of the students are prioritized in future decisions regarding the field.