BUTLER TWP — The Butler School Board Monday voted 5-3 on a $435,000 contract for A-Turf to replace the turf at Art Bernardi Stadium. District solicitor Tom King said the district did not have to seek bids for the contract because the contract is through COSTARS, a state contract program.

District officials met with three vendors who offered quotes. The lowest quote, from ProGrass was $409,000, but A-Turf was the only company to offer a contract through COSTARS. FieldTurf's quote was $450,000, King said.

Nick Morelli, acting director of business services, said he recommended A-Turf because of the price and the quality of the product.

Doing a bid process would cost the district an additional $12,000 to $15,000 in architectural and legal fees and would take about two months, Morelli said.

Board members Bill Halle, Nina Teff and John Conrad voted no. Halle said he preferred to go out to bid. New board member Mary Waggoner abstained.

The money will come from last year's $9.7 million bond issue. The Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation has money earmarked for the stadium, though Superintendent Brian White said the district may request that the foundation assist with a project to improve the locker rooms.

The turf at the field is 12 years old and is nearing the end of its life, Morelli said.