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Board OKs first read of track and field lighting policy with public comment period
Summary
The board accepted a first reading of a proposed track/field lighting and sound policy that limits months and hours of use, caps varsity night contests, restricts sound to safety and game needs, and calls for annual review and neighbor outreach.
The Byram Hills board approved a first reading of a proposed track/field lighting and sound policy, sending the draft out for 30 days of public comment before returning it to committee in January.
Gina (presenter) reviewed the policy development process, saying the draft was reviewed by the policy committee and athletic advisory committee and that neighbors adjacent to campus received outreach. The policy would allow lighting for interscholastic contests in specified months (August, September, October, November, December, April and May), permit each varsity team up to two night contests (including homecoming) with a district cap of 24 night contests per school year, and set firm lights-off times (lights off by 10:00 p.m. for contests and lights off by 8:00 p.m. for practices when specified).
The policy also defines acceptable sound use—limited to warm-up period for the national anthem, safety/security announcements, and game announcers for varsity contests—and enforces a code of conduct with progressive responses to behavioral infractions. Gina said the policy includes an annual review of lighting use and community feedback.
Board members noted the policy’s multi-stage development and the planned neighborhood outreach. The board moved, seconded, and approved the first read and associated policy review items; the transcript records the approval but not a roll-call tally.
The district will post the draft for a 30-day public comment period and expects to return the policy to committee and to the board in January for further action.
