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Coaches warn of unsafe lighting; board asks for LED retrofit and turf cost analysis
Summary
Coaches told the committee that recurring stadium-light failures at Terrebonne High create blind spots, hamper film review and risk player and official safety; the board asked the superintendent for a cost analysis of LED retrofits and for turf resurfacing options and funding ideas.
Coaches and athletic staff described recurring lighting failures at Tom B. Smith Stadium and urged the district to pursue an LED retrofit before next football season.
Stan Smith, head coach at HL Bourgeois, said poor or inconsistent lighting complicates game film review and can increase the risk of injuries. "When there's darkness and the kids can't see, it kind of creates hesitation that creates injuries," he told the committee. Tyler Lewis, interim athletic director and head football coach at Terrebonne High School, added that referees have complained about blind spots and that sections of lights can be out for weeks at a time.
Board members asked the superintendent to return to the committee with cost estimates and retrofit options, including LED replacements and basic and premium fixture packages, and to explore potential community partnerships and sponsorships to offset costs. Members noted the booster club fundraiser had recently raised $40,000 and suggested corporate partners and energy providers might be willing to participate.
The committee also discussed artificial turf replacement options for Terrebonne High and South Terrebonne High. Board members reviewed an estimate range (resurfacing figures discussed around $2 million; historic installations cited at roughly $1.1–$1.2 million) and a new safety padding addition (presenters estimated about $125,000). Members urged establishing an annual reserve for turf replacement and exploring corporate naming or sponsorship where allowed by athletic association rules.
The superintendent and staff agreed to provide a cost/benefit analysis for light retrofits and turf replacement options and to return with a timeline and funding options at a future meeting.
