In May the Union County Board of Education discussed the use of turf grass on sports fields, particularly the softball and baseball fields at the new middle school. The original plan for the new middle school called for sod on both the softball and the baseball field. However, at a meeting earlier this year, Dr. Jimmy Carter asked Director Greg Clay to research the cost of artificial turf in relation to the cost of sod.

The Union County Commission met with the Union County School Board during the Board's regular October workshop to have an opportunity to ask questions regarding the new middle school. Specifically, commissioners wanted to know if the middle school sports fields are included in the current plan and if the timeline for completing the sports fields would cause a lapse in availability if the jail is constructed on the current middle school football field. The first concern was put to rest before the architects even arrived.

In less than a half hour of discussion and less than four minutes for the actual meeting with barely a quorum, the Union County Board of Education completed its work at the meeting on October 7.
Meeting a week early to accommodate fall break, the board heard from its attorney that the lawsuit with the Union County Historical Society had been settled and final order documents filed with the Union County Register of Deeds. However, Attorney MaryAnn Stackhouse appealed to the board members to adjourn to the library after the meeting to hear about even more current pending litigation.