Synthetic turf is coming to the athletic field at Muirlands Middle School following a recent school board vote. Chris Hargave (Muirlands Middle School principal) and Dana Shelburne (La Jolla High School principal) recently went public with the unanimous vote of the five-member school board, approving the agreement between the school district and the Muirlands Foundation for the installation of synthetic turf on the athletic field at the middle school.  Hargrave noted that her physical education staff is very appreciative and looking forward to finally having a safe, risk-free playing field on which 1,100 students participate in physical education classes every day.  With insufficient facilities at the high school to accommodate the school’s athletic teams, Shelburne commented that the high school soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and baseball teams will utilize the new field. Much of the credit for the new turf goes to La Jolla High alum Jeff Jacobs, a star basketball player for the Vikings, who graduated in 1984. Jacobs’ major contribution brought the committee’s fund-raising to more than $500,000, which resulted in the project receiving $500,000 in matching dollars from a state facilities fund.  Jacobs and his wife Deni have been major benefactors on a number of projects in recent years. The two are responsible for the completion of various significant improvements on both campuses, including the high school main athletic field and lower field as well as the Brent Woodall varsity baseball clubhouse. The Muirlands athletic field will be part of the Deni and Jeff Jacobs Athletic Complex. Howard Frank, chairman of the “Turf It” committee, had high praise for the members of the committee.  “We started this project almost three years ago, and we are absolutely thrilled with what we have accomplished,” Frank remarked. “I have been involved in a number of projects at our schools but have never been associated with such dedicated, hardworking folks as those on the ‘Turf It’ committee.” While construction was scheduled to start this month, $75,000 is still needed to complete the $1.2 million project, with the installation of a running surface around the perimeter of the field and a fitness area for the Muirlands physical education classes.  For additional information on how to assist with the project, contact Frank at (619) 574-1888 or e-mail [email protected].