East Lycoming School District school board has approved submitting a “School Facility Improvement Grant” in the amount of about $1.6 million for improvements at Hughesville High School.

The improvements planned include: Replacement of a sidewalk and a ramp for accessibility to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act and improve safety, replacement of the main domestic hot water boiler, which is 27 years old, replacement of 43 classroom unit ventilators that are between 30 to 40 years old.

If approved for this grant, the district is required to provide 25% matching funds that will be held in reserve through the construction bonds ($402,500.00).

Grant award announcements will be made in late summer or early fall, according to Dr. Mark Stamm, superintendent of schools.

Lights for the stadiums

The lights are coming to the football and soccer stadiums in a close 5-4 vote for 40 Candlefoot versions from MUSCO.

As requested by Craig Dudek, board president, two proposals for stadium lights were on the recent agenda for consideration and were voted on.

Ahead of the vote questions submitted by the board were answered in a return letter from the contractor. Those were included for review and Stamm said the district was looking forward to expanding live streaming opportunities, which Stamm said he knew Dr. Justin Rodkey, district athletic director, was eager to pursue.

Also ahead of the vote, Stamm’s recommendation remained the approval of the 40FC lights for soccer and football.

The board approved the 40 Footcandles for the football field at $220,000 and for the soccer

field at $204,500.

The stadium lights for 30 Footcandles from MUSCO, at the football field was at $200,000 and for the soccer field at $172,500.

Before the vote, a number of students, a soccer coach and parents urged the board to go with the more costly bid.

One said when student athletes are having college scouts look at their play they will not consider them if the lighting is poor and move on to the next student athlete on a list.

Board member Floyd Swales read the letter from MUSCO with questions the board had before the vote.

Numerous questions focused on the comparison between the products. The full list of questions are readable on the school website.

One of them was: “Will the installation of 30 CF lighting meet PIAA standards for football and soccer?”

“Yes,” the contractor replied, indicating 30CF lighting was commonly used throughout the state at PIAA sanctioned events.

Additionally, there would be no safety indications with that size, Swales noted.

Also, a new LED lighting system would provide more useable and consistent light even if it were of the existing system, even if the average foot candle is similar, where the lighting would be noticeably improved and resulting in better visibility for the players and the spectators

There was a question that indicated that any of the lights chosen would maintain their consistency over time and would not dim or experience rapid depreciation.

The system is created for 125,000 hours of usage before they lose eight percent of their effectiveness.

For reference , most high schools only use about 100,000 hours of light per year.

If the lights become dimmer over time, maintenance would be performed as indicated in the long-term warranty.

A photographer who attends numerous sporting events in the county said the camera quality has as much to do with producing quality photographs as does the field lights, according to Swales.

During the discussion leading up to the vote, Swales said he heard and acknowledged those in attendance but noted there were other taxpayers who were not at the meeting.

The vote for the 40CF lights was: Five yes and four no. Those voting yes were Victoria Harrington, Eric Miller, Brian Shearer, Scott Ritter and Nichole Hopkins. Voting no were Chris Downey, Randy Holmes, Dudek and Swales.