If passion played a role in decision-making, High School North would have had permanent lighting around its football field long ago.##M:[more]##
“I have danced this dance with the district before,” says Peter Weale, a resident of West Windsor, among a strong contingent of football lighting supporters who spoke at the public comment portion of the board’s November 16 meeting (see letter on page 2).
“I told the board that all our efforts are compatible with the board’s mission statement,” says Weale. “We submitted a proposal that included all the pros and cons of having lights at High School North. But they said that it wasn’t strong enough to put it on the agenda.”
Board president Hemant Marathe says that the submitted proposal addressed some of the financial issues of the project, but left some questions unanswered.
He also says that he is willing to work with a contact person for the booster club, possibly Kevin Chapman (who authored the submitted proposal) to further look at the project. “One of the problems is that the administration is very busy with all the other projects around the district so the booster club will have to do most of the legwork,” he says.
Marathe also said that there is a possibility that a committee may be formed to study the issue, although board members already have a lot on their plates. “I didn’t sense that too many people would volunteer to be on the committee. With all the other things, like teacher negotiations, the middle school study, and the budget, people are very busy.”
The proposal, as submitted on October 29, seeks approval for the installation of privately funded field lights at High School North’s athletic field.
The proposal states that the original construction of the athletic field at North included the laying of electrical conduits and the installation of a power supply to support field lights. Clearly, permanent field lights were planned for sometime in the future. Included among the “pros” listed in the proposal are:
A significant cost savings. The continual cost of renting temporary lights for night games is significant. The proposal estimates that this costs the district about $2,”100 per game. The district also rents lighted field space at Mercer County Community College for night soccer games at a cost of $610 per game. Permanent lighting would eliminate this expense.
Increased revenue at night games. Night games attract bigger crowds, which means more money for the district in ticket sales and concession sales.
A lighted field could be used for other events apart from football, including soccer games, track and field events, lacrosse, marching band and cheerleading competitions.
Improved lighting quality of permanent lights as opposed to temporary lights.
Among the “cons,” the proposal lists:
Security with larger crowds would be more difficult and costly. The proposal states that either the increased revenue would more than pay for additional security or that the booster club would volunteer to help out with such duties as crowd control and ticket taking.
The perception of inequality between High School North and High School South. Parity between the high schools is a major concern for many school officials. But the proposal states that the board has already expended funds for the wiring to support the lights at North — already a perceived inequality — and that schedules could be arranged that would allow South to use the field. Also South booster clubs are free to raise funds of their own to have lights installed.
The proposal also states that funding for the project would come entirely from public and corporate donors. Musco Lighting has told the booster club that permanent lighting could be obtained for $80,”000 and Lucas Electric is willing to install it for $23,”000. Lights could be mounted on four towers around the perimeter of the field.
But according to Marathe, the district has a number of issues to deal with that are more important than field lights. He also says that he has had conversations with district athletic director Marty Flynn and North principal Michael Zapicchi, and that while both would welcome permanent field lights at North, neither sees it as a top priority.
Linda Geevers, board member from West Windsor, says that she is neutral on the question, but would prefer administration focus on upgrading some of its older buildings before taking on such a new initiative. “I don’t want to take a position on it until much more information is available, but we need to study all the financial details.”
She adds that she has spoken to some in the district who believe that a minimum of five light towers would be required and that the football field would need to be expanded in order to allow soccer and lacrosse games to be played on it. Geevers also says that many officials in the state recommend astro turf be installed on multi-use athletic fields, which would prove costly. Whether nearby residents would be in favor of the lights and additional activities is another concern.
But while there are no quick answers, at least one board member sees this as an issue that must be addressed. “What was submitted was not yet a proposal,” says Henry Wieck. “But it is a frustration for people to work within a system and not have it resolved. This is an issue that we need to resolve one way or another and we should get off the dime on it.”
Other School News
Also at the meeting on November 16, the board approved a resolution to renew the school staff agreement with Maxim Healthcare Services to provide nursing services to the district’s special education students.
The board also approved a change order to increase the contract to Integrity Roofing for the greenhouse replacement at High School South. The contract increases by $26,”010, from $224,”000 to $250,”010.
The board’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 23, at 7:30 p.m. at Community Middle School, 55 Grovers Mill Road,in Plainsboro. On tap will be a vote on the award of transportation contracts to the George Dapper, Stout , C&R, and Rick bus companies.
The board will also vote on a resolution to memorialize an oral agreement with Baker Residential, LLP, for a construction and maintenance easement for a sewer line over Walker Gordon Farms.
