NEW ALBANY — The idea of borrowing $2 million for capital projects was floated by the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp.’s board of trustees, but was met with some resistance at Monday’s meeting.

Brad Snyder, deputy superintendent, presented the idea of taking out a general obligation bond to put artificial turf on the athletic fields of New Albany and Floyd Central high schools and to improve technology infrastructure in the district, but at a cost of a tax increase to citizens.

“That all becomes relative if tax increase is a four-letter word, that’s one thing,” Snyder said. “But if you look at it in a bigger frame, which I hope that we do here in a minute, that will put a different color on it.”

He said the district could take that money and spend $1.3 million on the new fields. The artificial turf would resist damage from more use — which would allow marching bands and other groups to use the fields — and would cost less in maintenance and repairs, putting about another $30,000 into the district’s general fund annually.

He proposed improving the district’s wireless networks and technology in classrooms with the other $700,000. He said the district could install SMART Boards — interactive whiteboards with projectors connected to computers — in classrooms and replace computers on a more frequent basis.

But Neal Smith, board member, said he didn’t see why the district should put more tax burden on residents right now.

“I’m a little confused about why we would borrow money and raise the tax rate just because we can,” Smith said. “To incur debt just simply because it’s easy to do for something like this just seems a little haywire in my mind.”

He said though the district would see increased use of the athletic fields and lower maintenance costs with them, the district has put back money in its capital projects fund for years to put turf on the fields.

Lee Cotner, vice president, said while he supports the improvements, he’s not sure now is the time for this kind of move.

“I’m a proponent for sports turf, I’ve seen it all over the state..,” Cotner said. “I’m just against the tax increase for paying for it. I don’t think this is the financial vehicle to use to get it in right now.”

Though Snyder said his proposed timeline would begin July 16 and end before the new year, the board will hear more on the topic at its next meeting June 18.

The board also heard an update on how the transition to outsourced custodial services has gone so far from Bill Wiseheart, director of facilities.

He said while some parts of the transition have been a little rough, he’s pleased overall with the changeover so far.

“By and large, I would say that our experience so far with Sodexo, given the magnitude of the changes, has gone very well,” Wiseheart said.

The board voted to outsource the district’s custodial services Oct. 24, 2011. The change was estimated to save the district about $800,000 a year.

He said building administrators have given mixed reviews on the cleanliness of schools — some pleased and others not — since the change, but he said there have been some staffing issues to iron out.

When Sodexo — the company handling the district’s custodial services — began working, there were 21 positions filled by temporary employees. With a lot of turnover in that group, inconsistency and other problems had arisen, including temporary employees who either didn’t know what to do or didn’t want to work.

But he said that gap has been narrowed to eight, which he said he hopes will turn to zero soon.

“I firmly believe once we get a stable work force in, things are looking much better for us,” Wiseheart said. “I’m not trying to paint this in too much doom and gloom, the buildings are functioning and doing very well...”

He said originally, 51 of the employees NA-FC had were grandfathered in at their pay rates with Sodexo when the change was voted on by the board. After some deaths and employees quitting, there are still 46 employees from NA-FC working with Sodexo. Wiseheart said none of the ones who left were fired.

In other business at the meeting:

• The board voted to approve a policy revision in canceling teacher contracts. The change now puts the district in line with state law.

• Sharon Jones, the principal at Slate Run Elementary School, was approved as the district’s new Director for Student Programs and Cultural Responsiveness. Theresa Duke, the current director, will retire at the end of this year.