The installation of the anticipated stadium lights at five San Jose high schools, including Pioneer and Leland, has been postponed.

The athletic directors of Willow Glen, Pioneer, Gunderson, Lincoln and Leland high schools met mid August with San Jose Unified School District board members and construction representatives to discuss the status of the installation process. The district is still waiting for the installation permit to be approved by the California Public Works Department.

The installation, which had been tentatively scheduled for completion during the summer, has been pushed back, and school officials are crossing their fingers that night games will become an reality by the end of the year.

Willow Glen High School is going to have night games.

The San Jose Unified School District board voted unanimously on May 24 to approve the installation of permanent stadium lights at five of its high schools, including Willow Glen.

This final meeting marked the 17th time since December 2006 the district has discussed the proposal throughout five different communities.

The agenda will consist of a presentation of the draft CEQA study for each respective site regarding the potential installation of athletic field lighting for evening sporting events at your neighborhood high school.

There will be discussion of the analysis and findings regarding impacts, and any proposed mitigation measures. The community will be given opportunity to provide input regarding the report which will be considered and incorporated into the report to the extent appropriate.

The consultant will make a full recovery, but the meeting has been postponed. WGx will pass along more information as it becomes available.

From the WG Resident: “Willow Glen High continues discussion on night lights”

… One resident best described the community’s response to the meeting: “There are issues and there will be problems, but together, let’s work them out. This is a great opportunity to build spirit for the students and broader school community.” …

The lights would be used for only 10 games per school year, and outside organizations using the field would not have access to the facility at night. Four lights are proposed for the high school, each 90 feet tall. The infrastructure is already in place. The lights will use photometric technology. Each light will shine down into the field instead of across the fields or into a resident’s yard.

Additional meetings are scheduled for January 11 (7:00 pm in WGHS room L-101) and on February 12.