The School Board will decide April 9 to go natural or synthetic.

One fact remains -- the high school football field needs a major renovation. Flush with $4 million cash on hand from a recent bond sale, the Fountain Hills Unified School District wants to proceed with that renovation project this summer so that the gridiron will be ready for the 2014 football season in early fall.

A construction consultant was on hand at the board's March 26 meeting to review the two options and provide the district with enough information to make a decision on the turf.

The Falcon Athletic Booster Club prefers a new synthetic surface, which will cost about $760,000 to install, but the long-term maintenance costs are much cheaper than natural turf. If the district installs new natural turf, however, that will cost about $639,000.

As part of the initial $4 million in bond sales from the $8 million authorized by voters late last year, the district this year also will likely spend nearly $1.5 million for improvements to the heating, venting and air conditioning and lighting systems at various district sites.