GHS Student Government Leaders Appeal to Town for Compromise on Field Lighting

Submitted by the Greenwich High School Student Government Executive Committee, Thursday, Jan 4, 2018

Dear GHS Community,

In light of the Board of Ed re-opening litigation, the Executive Committee of the GHS Student Government would like to vocalize our perspective and contribute to the conversation.

We first want to say that we understand the legal history behind the field lighting limitations at GHS. It dates back farther than when any of us were students at the High School. However, the existing limitations in accessing and lighting the GHS athletic fields are affecting our educational and athletic experiences directly.

Our goal with this letter is to put forth the comments of current GHS students and to advocate for mutually agreed upon, common-sense solutions.

Because our use of lights at Cardinal Stadium is limited to ten contests and six practices per year, and there exists no other lit fields on the GHS campus, GHS student athletes had a difficult time balancing their academic workload, personal lives, and athletic endeavors this fall season.

For state tournament competitions, teams such as soccer and field hockey had the choice between night games on a lighted field, or 2:00 pm contests.

Due to our lack of light accessibility, both teams missed a significant amount of school for games scheduled during the school day.

The JV football team played a game in almost pitch darkness on November 6th, with parents attempting to light the field with car headlights and flashlights.

The Varsity football team tried to work their way around the situation by traveling to New Canaan High School to use their lights and Chelsea Piers to practice indoors.

These “solutions” were time-consuming, eating into the students’ time to spend with their families and complete their homework.

We understand that there is more to this issue, especially involving the later school start times. Regardless, increased access to the use of our stadium lights and the addition of lights on other fields would result in a safer, more balanced high school experience for our athletes.

We understand that the litigation will involve a broader discussion of more issues than just our field lighting. However, we hope that by specifically addressing a matter that is important to our student-athletes and directly affects us, we can begin a conversation focused on compromise and common sense steps.

We advocate for agreements that: 1) allow our student-athletes to finish practices and games on lit fields; and, 2) help to rebuild our relationship with our neighbors.

It is also our understanding that the Greenwich Public Schools is proposing reduced-glare LED lighting, as a means of accommodating neighbor concerns of excessive light glare. This is one potential solution that the Executive Committee wishes to highlight.

Growing up in Greenwich, we have learned the value of respecting our neighbors. In the end, we are one community and we do have to live next to each other.

We only hope to be good neighbors, and believe that the answer to preserving community harmony is compromise and conversation.

Hopefully, by publishing this letter, we may enter into discussion with real, long-lasting solutions as the goal. Our goal, as students, is to listen and advocate for common ground.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

The GHS Student Government Executive Committee
Student Body President – Gregory Goldstein
Vice President of Communications – Catherine Veronis
Vice President of Community Service – Emily Gunzburg
Vice President of Special Events – Julia Putrino
Vice President of Student Concerns – Sophia Chow
Senior Class President – Alissa Landberg
Junior Class President – Alexander Kosyakov
Sophomore Class President – Zane Khader
Freshman Class President –  Mark Chen

See also:

BOE Request for Temporary Lights at Central Middle School Denied by Planning & Zoning

Greenwich Board of Education Green Lights GHS Lights Litigation

GHS Neighbors Blast Schools Super During “What If” Presentation on Options for Lighting and Cardinal Field Upgrades

Playing Football in the Dark at GHS: Parents Not Happy as Daylight Savings Converges with Later Dismissal

With No End in Sight for GHS Fields Shortage and Lighting Restrictions, GCDS Enjoys “Friday Night Lights”

Neighbors Slam BOE Proposal for Temporary Lighting on CMS Field; P&Z Says Come Back with More Details

Selectmen Bless Temporary Field Lighting at Central Middle School for GHS Sports Practices

Greenwich Schools Start Times Update: 3 Buses Added, Ridership Up. No Deal at SUNY Purchase; Delay on Lights at CMS 

Greenwich Board of Ed Votes 5-3 in Favor of Implementing School Start Change for Fall 2017

GHS Cardinal Stadium Lighting Upgrades and Deed Restrictions Leave Greenwich Hamstrung. Again.  


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