Castleford trustees approve football-field lighting after 3–2 vote

The Castleford School District No. 417 Board of Trustees voted March 19 to approve Electric One West’s bid to install light poles for the high-school football field, authorizing up to $50,000 from the district fund balance to cover any additional cost.

The motion was made by Trustee Kim Taylor and seconded by Trustee Will Jaynes. Trustees Kim Taylor, Brian Darrow and Will Jaynes voted in favor; Chairman Rae Bower and Trustee Charlene Davis voted against the measure, and the motion carried 3–2, as recorded in the public minutes.

Board documents and discussion identified multiple funding sources for the project: the Castleford Men’s Club pledged $40,000, the district has an unused $40,000 allocation from a supplemental levy that could be redirected to the project, Athletic Director Kirstin Keetch applied for a $20,000 Dick’s Sporting Goods grant, and Superintendent Dena Allred said she is pursuing additional grants. The motion before the Board authorized up to $50,000 additional district funds if needed; the minutes do not state the total final contract price or the remaining fund balance after the authorization.

Trustees discussed the bid from Electric One West during the meeting’s old-business agenda. The minutes record that the Castleford Men’s Club committed to the donation, and that Keetch was already seeking external grant funding to reduce the district’s share. No timeline for installation or additional contract details were entered into the public minutes.

The Board’s approval follows other recent facilities activity noted in the meeting, including the removal of a maintenance building and ongoing summer-project bidding. The board did not record direct quotes in the minutes for the debate on the lighting project.

Next steps recorded in the meeting minutes: the district will proceed with the approved bid and pursue grant funding and donor contributions to offset the district’s authorized contingency.