February 24, 2026
Statement from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education
School Fields: Natural Grass and/or Synthetic Turf
The Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District Board of Education is committed to making informed decisions that are grounded in up-to-date research, evidence and in the best interests of the safety and well-being of all students and their educational outcomes.
There are no imminent decisions regarding any fields in SMMUSD at the present time. Any future decisions will be based on research, educational uses for all campus spaces and community impact, as our fields serve as parks on weekends and afterschool hours.
To support informed, evidence-based decisions, the Board of Education requested a comprehensive, third-party study by NV5, an independent global environmental consulting firm, to compare current grass fields at our school campuses with newer generations of synthetic turf. This approach is essential because much of the available research focuses on older synthetic turf products and professionally maintained natural grass fields, which do not accurately reflect school-site conditions. This study is one of many sources of information the District is considering in determining future decisions.
You may access the NV5 study at this link.
We encourage community members to learn more about the science and educational considerations involved. Additional research is underway and will continue to guide the Board’s future decisions. We also welcome any additional resources you believe would be helpful for this review.
Timetable for decisions regarding Franklin Elementary School and other SMMUSD schools:
At Franklin Elementary School, construction on the new Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten building is scheduled to begin summer 2026. During construction, a temporary parking lot and a small grass field will be created for student use. The permanent field will be installed near the end of the project, beginning in spring 2028. A decision about the field surface will not be needed until fall 2027. Long-term plans for fields at other elementary schools will not be decided until 2028 or later.
The Board of Education remains committed to educating the whole child, including physical health and well-being. Our play fields serve as our largest classrooms and are essential for student development and daily instruction. We are dedicated to providing safe, functional, and supportive learning facilities for all students.
Please view these resources for more information: