United ISD staff outline LED field lighting plan for high‑school stadiums; SECO loan could fund existing facility upgrades

United Independent School District facilities and athletics staff discussed plans to add LED sports lighting to several high‑school fields at a February 2025 board workshop, saying the work would let schools host JV, freshman and some middle‑school contests at campus stadiums and provide earlier‑morning practice times.

"The purpose of having sports lighting at our campuses is to be able to have and hold competitive games such as JV, freshman and perhaps some middle school games at the high schools," facilities presenter said, noting the district is aiming for a minimum of 30 foot‑candles for competitive play with fewer than 2,000 spectators.

Staff explained that existing stadiums vary: Kruger Field (capacity under 5,000) measured about 50 foot‑candles in an earlier photometric study, while the larger SAC venue exceeded 5,000 capacity and was measured near 100 foot‑candles. The minimum required for competitive play with fewer than 2,000 spectators is 30 foot‑candles. Facilities reported the athletic department supports additional on‑campus lighting because district fields are heavily used across fall and spring seasons; the district currently hosts about 50 school football teams across high schools and middle schools.

Staff evaluated solar‑powered lighting and concluded current solar technology cannot reliably sustain 30 foot‑candles for the four‑to‑five hour windows needed for competitive games. Solar lighting is suitable, they said, for parking‑lot and security lighting but not for sustained stadium play. Instead the district is looking at LED fixtures installed on a four‑pole system at each campus using existing or modified pole infrastructure.

Facilities noted ancillary work required if campuses increase hosted games: additional accessible routes, parking improvements, adult restrooms, and domestic services such as power and possibly fiber. Those collateral costs would be separate from the SECO loan application for LED replacements.

Staff said a photometric study from 2018 is available and that a separate campus‑level study would be required to finalize pole locations and confirm sightlines. A purchase order for a consultant report has already been issued for about $47,000; staff said they would submit a pre‑application to the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) as soon as the application window opens. Trustees were told the SECO loan is a reimbursement program and requires the district to invest up front and document past lighting expenditures to calculate savings.

Board members discussed cost estimates and noted a 2013 estimate for four high schools of about $1.8 million (LED replacement), which staff said would need updating for inflation and scope. No formal commitment was taken in workshop; staff said they will return with refined cost estimates and a plan for pursuing SECO funding and other grant opportunities.