District seeks T-Mobile Friday Night Lights grant to improve stadium accessibility

The district director told the school board the district applied for the T‑Mobile Friday Night Lights program, a $5,000 award, and said the district's request focuses on making the stadium more accessible for people with disabilities.

"There is a $5,000 prize," the director said. She explained the grant request was narrowly targeted: "What we're asking for is access to our field for people with disabilities. And, I think that is so important."

The director said the grant application does not seek turf or a new gym but rather improvements such as accessible entrances and restroom facilities. She asked the community to help promote the school's application through social media; the district communications staff were identified as supporting that outreach.

Why it matters: Accessibility upgrades affect students and community members with mobility impairments and may be eligible for targeted grants, but the $5,000 award is small relative to major construction needs. The director said the district has applied for the prize for a second consecutive year and encouraged social media sharing to increase the chances of being selected.

No board vote on facilities or capital funding occurred at the meeting; staff framed the T‑Mobile submission as a competitive grant application and social media campaign rather than a board-funded project.