School District Considers Goats, Inmates to Cut Grass

A school district in Florida considered some unique options for grass and field maintenance given budgetary and staffing constraints. 

According to a report from Florida Today, the Brevard County School Board had considered using goats or even inmates to keep the grass cut.

"Are there any school districts in the country using goats? Can somebody look into that?" asked Brevard County School Board chair Tina Descovich. "I don’t think it’s that absurd."

The idea of using inmates to cut the grass was ruled out for security concerns, while the idea of using student volunteers was ruled out for liability concerns. Financial concerns ruled out outsourcing or bringing on additional workers. Zero-scaping and unmanned mowing machines were even explored. 

Unfortunately, the solution is no solution at all. According Florida Today, the school district has decided to do nothing and "accept the level of service for where it is."

Currently, there are 23 employees who mow 1,976 acres of school district property. They do everything from edging, tree-pruning, trimming, spraying for bugs, laying playground mulch and maintaining the district's 72 acres of athletic fields and 94 properties. 

"We wind up pushing all our guys hard. They're a tough bunch. They take it in stride," said Matt Nolle, the district’s head groundskeeper. "You can see it, you can see it in their face. At the end of the summer, they're worn.”