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The board of education was especially divided over one issue during budget discussions this week — the color of the new football field’s Astro Turf. After two close votes, the board determined it would not expend an extra $45,000 on a blue field.

Instead, the board approved next year’s $66 million budget, which allocates $825,000 for the green field.

Earlier, a member of the community had presented the board with a petition with 700 signatures of people who wanted a more expensive blue field. Blue Astro Turf would cost the district an additional $45,000, said business administrator Geoffrey Hastings. Of the $825,000 allocated for the field, the cost is expected to be about $700,000, he said. The remaining $107,000 can be used to cover change orders or unforeseen expenses.

State monitor Lester Richens, who attends all meetings to keep an eye on expenditures, said he would not support $45,000 for a blue field.

“You don’t have enough money,” Richens said. “God forbid there is a change order. You’re going to have to come back and … transfer funds to support it.”

Board members Rev. Geneva Smallwood and Angela Ahbez-Anderson cited other expenditures that occurred without having been budgeted ahead of time. For example, several weeks ago, the BOE allocated $75,000 to providing a police presence on streets near schools.

“I did approve that expenditure and I’m proud of it,” Richens said. “People can argue it’s not the BOE’s responsibility, but … if I had a choice between a child and a field, I’m taking the child.”

Ahbez-Anderson pleaded with the board to find the money for the field, saying it would be good for students’ morale.

“We are able to find money for just about everything else,” she said. She cited some examples, including a recent speaker who was paid $20,000 to speak during professional development for five days; $180,000 per year in rent at the BOE headquarters downtown on Mattison Avenue; and the upcoming costs of rehabilitating the Obama building.

“I think there’s a low morale here and our kids are feeling like they’re nothing,” Ahbez-Anderson. “When our kids are not coming to school because they’re not getting the education that they should be getting, we have to give them something. You want them to come back to school? Well, make them proud of themselves … Let’s put the money where it really should go.”

The first vote to expend the $45,000 on the blue field was tied, with Ahbez-Anderson, Smallwood, Joseph Raines and Kevin Michel voting in favor and Shelia Brazile, Gregory Brewington, Barbara Lesinski and Gregory Hobson voting against the expenditure. Gerard Dalton abstained.

Later in the meeting, the board voted again. Michel had departed from the meeting at this point, so the proponents of the blue field were outnumbered 4-3.

The next Asbury Park Board of Education meeting will take place on April 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Bradley Elementary School.

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