New LED lighting will be installed at the Pierce County High School baseball field at a total cost of $248,614.
The board of education approved the new lighting based on school superintendent Dara Bennett’s recommendation.
Facilities director Harbin Farr gave a presentation on the lighting at last Thursday’s work session and the board voted on the item at Monday’s regular meeting.
Farr gave a quote of $248,000 from Mosco Lighting for new LED lights at the baseball field.
The softball field adjacent to the baseball field already has LED lights, but the baseball field uses halogen lights.
“It will be much brighter to use LED lighting and make them uniform,” said Farr.
Farr and Bennett said the funding for the lighting can be taken from the school system’s reserve funds or the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).
The lights can be installed on the existing poles and will feature low, medium and high settings.
Farr also presented an additional $32,000 option for both the baseball field and football stadium that featured lights that could flash, change colors and keep tempo with music. The lighting would be like those found at university facilities, like Sanford Stadium at the University of Georgia.
“We need lights that shine on the field,” said second district board member Mitch Hall.
Fourth district board member Wendy Puryear agreed.
“We have excellent facilities now,” she said. “I think they are better than most colleges right now.”
First district board member Kirby Malone spoke in favor of purchasing both the lights and the option to make them flash, change color and keep temp with music.
“It creates an impressive atmosphere,” he said. “I think our kids deserve it.”
Malone asked for information about warranties and Farr said Mosco gives a 10 year unconditional warranty.
Malone said the extra cost, the warranty and the student enrollment for the school system put the additional cost at only $1 per student per year.
“We can afford that,” he said.
Bennett decided against recommending that option.
