Following a School Committee vote, Sippican School’s playground is about to get an $11,000 upgrade.

Facilities Director Gene Jones appeared before the committee at its Dec. 4 meeting to request the funds, which will be used to install engineered wood fiber.

Jones explained the material is an upgrade from the wood chips now on the playground. Wood fiber is designed to prevent injuries.

“They clean it. They roll it much like stones in roller so the child can actually reach down grab it with a hand and not get splinters,” said Jones.

The work would be done to the large playground, located off of Spring Street adjacent to Sippican School. Since the playground is not locked it is subject to federally mandated standards, Jones explained.

The upgrade will let the school meet federal code and help it achieve an upcoming accreditation evaluation.

Jones estimated that shipping and purchasing the material would cost $5,443. Installing it will cost $5,000.

To avoid large expenses such as this going forward, School Committee member Christine Winters said regular maintenance should be built into the budget. The last major upgrade happened five years ago. Wood chips were purchased with $5,000 and residents volunteered to spread them on the playground.

The money will come from the grounds maintenance account. Before the vote, School Committee Chair Joe Scott ensured the playground’s maintenance account was emptied to help cover the cost – a whopping $391.

“I was thinking that would buy a bench. But no, that wouldn’t even cover the cost of a bench,” Jones joked.