Auburn School Committee Approves $700,000 Turf Field Replacement Articles for Fall Town Meeting

AUBURN — June 3, 2026 — Auburn School Committee sends $700,000 turf field replacement package to October special town meeting. The committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve warrant articles and capital improvement budget amendments that together would fund replacement of the all-purpose field at Auburn High School, which a consultant has assessed has one season of safe use remaining. Business Manager Janet Stanek assembled the $700,000 total from four sources: a new $300,000 appropriation request to fall town meeting voters, $150,000 already in the FY2025 capital plan that was never formally appropriated at town meeting, $150,000 repurposed from a completed Bryn Mawr parking lot project in the FY2027 capital budget, and $100,000 repurposed from FY2024 scoreboard and parking lot resurfacing lines at the high school. A separate warrant article requests $70,000 from the town to co-fund a $140,000 wheelchair-accessible replacement van, with the remaining half expected from fair share state funding. The warrant closes August 12 — before the school year's first meeting — making Wednesday's vote the committee's only opportunity to act before the October 7 special town meeting. The meeting also served as the farewell for retiring Superintendent Dr. Beth Chamberlain, whose 16-year tenure with the Auburn Public Schools ends when incoming Superintendent Dr. R.J. Skaza takes office July 1.