That artificial turf field your kid practices on can run up to 50 degrees hotter than natural grass, according to research from Penn State. Those little black rubber pellets absorb heat all day and radiate it right back up through cleats and shoes. Texas school districts are starting to take notice. Hutto ISD installed a new corn-based turf system this summer, and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD has already converted 33 of its 38 fields to cork and corn-based products. Districts using the new turf report temperature drops of 20 to 30 degrees, which is a massive difference when practice starts at 4 p.m. in August.

The UIL made heat protocols mandatory for Texas schools back in August, a move that was widely praised by coaches and athletic trainers. But the rules cover when and how teams practice, not what they practice on. There is currently no state requirement for cooler turf, and the main reason is cost. These systems carry a higher price tag than traditional rubber pellet turf, which means the decision falls to individual districts and the voters who approve their bonds.

For communities like Waxahachie, where Friday night lights and youth sports are part of the fabric of the town, the question is a real one. Cooler fields mean safer athletes, band members, and PE students. But they also mean tough choices at budget time. So here’s what we want to know. Should Texas require cooler turf at all public school stadiums, or should each district decide for itself? Sound off in the comments.