School board approves LED upgrade, hears debate over color lighting option

The Southgate Community School District Board of Education voted to approve the recommended award for the Anderson Stadium LED lighting and electrical renovations, a project the district staff and bidder representatives said will replace current halogen fixtures and add upgraded controls.

The recommendation from the district's evaluation team is for MHM Construction to serve as contractor with a contract amount of $235,000 and a project contingency of $40,000, for a total recommendation of $275,000, pending final legal review. The recommended base package does not include an RGB color lighting option, which staff said would cost an additional $17,400 if the board later chooses to add it.

District representatives said the project will reuse the existing poles, replace fixtures and arms, install Musco-brand LED fixtures with controls and provide a 25-year fixture warranty. Work is planned to begin after the 2025 football season and to be complete before the spring sports season to minimize disruption.

In a detailed presentation, Kent, a representative of Platt Moreno Real Point, and district staff explained that halogen fixtures currently flood the field with broad light and require frequent repairs; the district estimated roughly $16,000 in immediate repairs to restore existing bulbs and ballast. The recommended LED fixtures use shielded, more directional optics that staff said will reduce light spill onto neighboring properties; contractors provided photometric plans intended to demonstrate limited off-site light.

Board members spent most of the discussion focused on the optional RGB color package, community perception and long-term value. Dr. Camponio moved to approve the project as recommended; Mr. Green offered support. Board members asked whether the RGB features could be added later and were told by staff that the color option requires different controllers and additional wiring, so retrofitting later would be more expensive and would likely require remobilizing cranes and additional fixtures. Staff also said general testing of poles and wiring will be done early in the project so the district will know whether additional wiring or pole replacements are required.

Members who spoke in favor noted the existing lighting dates to the 1980s and argued that investing in more durable LED fixtures now would avoid repeated costs over decades. Other members cautioned about perceptions of “flashing” or excessive effects and emphasized restricting how color features might be used. Staff said the district can be “judicious” in authorizing special effects and suggested use cases such as thematic lighting for school events rather than constant “flash” effects.

On a voice vote, after the motion and support were on the table, the board approved the LED lighting recommendation. No named roll-call tally was recorded in the public minutes; the chair called for “all in favor” followed by “any opposed” and declared the motion passed.

Staff said the recommended contract includes new fixture hardware, new arms and controls; the existing poles will remain unless testing shows otherwise. The presentation also referenced available rebates that contractors had incorporated into bids to reduce net cost, and that Musco would retrofit its own equipment as part of the installation.

The board left open the possibility of authorizing the contractor to order the RGB controller and fixtures in time if the board decides to include them before the contractor orders major components, but staff emphasized the board would need to authorize any extra scope in time before fixture ordering.

The district's materials submitted with the recommendation included a full tabulation of proposals from five bidders, reference projects and the contractor's proposed photometric plan for limiting off-site light.

The board moved on to the next agenda items after the vote.