District Flips 'On' Switch for Friday Night Lights

After months of discussion, negotiation and , the (SUHSD) Board of Trustees has approved a project that will allow to extend its athletic field use into the evening hours.

The was approved by a unanimous vote by the board Wednesday night according to board president Alan Sarver.

Carlmont was the that did not have lights on its athletic field.

On Tuesday, the district, led by superintendent, Dr. James Lianides, made a summary presentation of the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project. Those in attendance were community members who live within a one-quarter mile radius around the school, Hastings Drive above the campus, and members of the Carlmont High School community. 

Sarver explained that the Mitigated Negative Declaration included the concerns and mitigations originally raised by residents in neighborhoods near the high school. A Mitigated Negative Declaration is used when the initial study of a project has identified potentially significant effects on the environment.

A negotiated agreement between a on Cranfield Avenue (adjacent to the campus) and the district addressed the number and nature of uses of the lights and public address system throughout the school year, volume level controls, periodic measurements and adjustments, traffic, parking, and security management.

At Wednesday's SUHD board meeting, a public hearing was held regarding the Mitigated Negative Declaration. There were no speakers in opposition to the project.

Following the Public Hearing, and based upon their review of the document, the board voted unanimously to approve the Mitigated Negative Declaration, thus approving the lights project.

Sarver said that over the summer, field lights, a modern public address system, visitor bleachers, and a visitor parking lot will be installed at Usher Field. 

In a concurrent, but separate project, the ten-year-old synthetic turf will be replaced.  The upgraded facility is anticipated to be ready in time for the 2012 fall football season at Carlmont, which will include four "Friday Night Lights" home games.

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