Newton County Schools Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey recommended that the school system need to purchase new football helmets for the upcoming school year at a special called meeting of the Newton County Board of Education March 26.

In Fuhrey's recommendation to the Board, she states that the new helmets will replace older helmets at the high school and middle school level that are being retired or discarded.

Furhey says the school system plans to purchase Riddell's Revolution Speed helmet, which was recently rated a five-star helmet by the Virginia Tech Helmet Rating Study. Earlier this month, Newton County schools were shown to have helmets in their inventories that fell below the recommended three-star rating, although all helmets in use had undergone reconditioning testing and passed inspection.

Overall, 379 new helmets are expected to be purchased at a total cost of $66,325. The cost per helmet will be $175, including one year of free reconditioning. Helmet price will include paint, chinstrap and facemask.

Helmet reconditioning is required yearly, by law, by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. For more information on the helmet rating system and how it affects Newton County, visit The News' previous story, Seeing Stars.