The Sequoia Union High School Board of Trustees has ironed out the final details that will lead to permanent lights being installed at Coach Parks Field at Menlo-Atherton High School.
At their meeting Wednesday night, trustees unanimously agreed to a bid from the Castro Valley-based electrical contractor Bleyco Inc. to install permanent lights around the school's athletic playing fields.
"The Menlo Atherton community is very pleased that the permanent lights project is now moving forward," Superintendent James Lianides said.
According to a District report, construction will take place over the course of the summer and the lights are expected to be permanently installed by August.
The board's approval of a payment of $358,198 for installing lights on four poles is the final step in a contentious process, which has included a group of neighbors who live in the homes surrounding the school's campus suing last year to block the project.
A group of residents calling themselves Protect Atherton's Resident Character filed suit against the high school district last August, claiming more traffic, noise and light pollution would be imposed on the surrounding neighborhood, when temporary lights were installed.
The group had accused the school of not doing the proper environmental review process that would investigate how installing lights would impact surrounding communities. But the two groups agreed on a settlement that stated the lights could be installed, under the premise that they would be used during only 16 nighttime sporting events, and until 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, among other stipulations.
After five years, the district is free to alter the use regulations, subsequent to doing an environmental review, according to a district report.
Following the settlement agreement, there has been no community opposition to permanent lights being installed, and on April 25, the Board of Trustees announced that it would accept bids for the project.
Prior to that, there was a three month period for public comment. None was received, according to Board Chair Lorraine Rumley.
The school's football, soccer and lacrosse teams will benefit from the lights being installed. The lights will also be used for special nighttime events at the school, according to Lianides.
"This will give athletes additional time for practices in the winter, add excitement to competitive sports, and give a greater number of parents the opportunity to see their children compete," Lianides said.
Bleyco Inc. was the only construction company of the seven that inspected the project in advance of bidding on the job, according to a district report.
To read more about this issue, .