There is a current debate over the number of synthetic fields needed at TCS; on the original plans of  TCS installations, there are a total of 4 synthetic fields. But is it really necessary to build all of them?

TCS has already built one synthetic field, and the decision to build the reamingin three is at play this year.  Juan Fernando Mesa, logistics boss at The Columbus School, explained that they are having second thoughts to build the three remaining because of a lack of funding, and also because other projects which may take priority at the school.

”The school has a development plan, which at this moment we have a list of 37 buildings in an x amount of time. Each year some new ones appear but also some are renewed. All of this correspond to a prioritization. There are some necessities which are more important than others. For example, elementary needs a new cafeteria,”Mesa said.

Many projects have been introduced each year and some unexpected priorities have raised to the top of the list, making it very crucial when choosing which projects to build each year and which one to leave for the future.

“The master plan needs to change every year because the necessities aren’t always the same so we are updating that plan master so we can have a clear image of what the school needs,” Paula Duque, Juan Fernando’s right hand, said.

The soccer fields have dropped down the list because of the low demand it has had over the years since it was first built. To many eyes, this had a much lower impact that they had hoped for and therefore changed their plans for the future.

“When the synthetic fields where built in the planners, I was able to recover 5 fields, that’s where the fields could go but we are no going to build each one. It depends on the demand that the students show. When we did the first synthetic field, the demand wasn’t as big, it was more on the lower side. Are we going to keep putting 300 million pesos knowing that there are more priorities that could have more demand? No, so that other 3 remaining fields were stopped,” Mesa said.

Three hundred million pesos is enough money to create second thoughts, of whether or not they should keep on going with the 2000’s blueprint or change it because of other projects.

“There is no infinite money so each year, there is an x amount of money that the school has and can be distributed to different projects,” Mesa said.