BOE approves SSHS lighting changes

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After months of discussion, and despite protests from residents near the school, the Board of Education approved changes to its lighting policy for South Side High School’s athletic field.

The new policy would not change how long the lights are on, but it does allow intramural teams and community groups to use the field during the designated hours.

Under the modified policy, the lights would be on until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 p.m. on Friday. The lights would only be able to be used during the fall and spring sports seasons: from the first day of school until approximately Nov. 30, and from about March 1 through the end of school.

The main change to the policy is that use of the lights is no longer limited to South Side sports teams exclusively. Outside sports groups, like the RVC Titans football team, could use the field and lights, as could community groups.

The original lighting policy was adopted in February, 2007 in response to concerns from residents. At the time, the district was considering installing lights at the South Side High School field, and neighbors were worried light would spill over into their homes and yards.

But because of the downturn in the economy in 2008, the lights weren’t installed. It wasn’t until last year that the lights were finally installed, in conjunction with the new field. During the year, the school district realized the policy was a little too limiting and proposed changes.

Some of the same residents who were protesting the installation of the lights in 2007 returned to school board meetings last year to voice their concern about changing the policy.

Kelly Carr, who lives near the school, spoke out against changing the policy at a meeting last year. She was also one of the people leading the charge against the lights back in 2007.

“We’ve come to terms that the lights are here,” she said. “We don’t have any issues with the children playing on the field. The lights are on at night. It’s the end time that’s important. We’re entitled to an end time. We’re entitled to our home. We work just like you, and we ask for that to be respected.”

Carr said that the changes to the lighting policy only solidify what residents in the area thought years ago: that once the lights were installed, the district would change its lighting policy to suit its needs over protests of residents.

“The complex hasn’t even been finished for a year, and the lighting policy has already changed to accommodate more private groups in the community,” Carr said.

“Our concerns have all come to be,” she added. “They did not increase the times, which is appreciated. But the traffic has to be looked at.”

John Groarke, another opponent of the lights, was less concerned about the changes to the policy. Groarke lives on Princeton Road, right by SSHS.

“Lights have been good,” he said. “The school policy has been good. They went on when the school was playing sports, and when it was finished, it was off.”

He added that his concern about the change in policy was more about the increased traffic that could come from allowing outside teams and community groups to use the field. Groarke said that more young families and children have moved onto Princeton Road in the decade since the lights were last an issue, and he was worried about increased traffic on the road.

“I’m more concerned about the safety issue at this point,” he said.