School Board Apologizes for Sunday Night Lights Snafu

The Ridgewood Board of Education apologized to the community for the bright field lights being on three hours past the allowed time on Sunday night, which the district said was because of a miscommunication with light contractor Musko.

"The lights were not out according to our established burn-in protocol and I apologize on behalf of the board for that. That should not have happened," Board president Michelle Lenhard said.

Schools superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein explained why the lights did not go off as scheduled, something neighbors have feared.

"This was a one-day event on Sunday that should have been out," Fishbein said. "The schedule I handed off to the electrician was just not input correctly by the Musko rep. He did not see that Sunday was a 6 o'clock shut-off and he kept it at the the normal 9 o'clock shut-off."

Lenhard said she hopes the district is more vigilant in having the numbers checked in the future. There's a lot on the line, she said.

"At this point we're trying to establish some credibility in terms of maintaining the lights and time-outs especially," Lenhard said.

Assistant Superintendent for Business Angelo DeSimone said he called the Musko control center in Iowa and was able to get the manual override password within a half hour. District administrators say this was a rare mistake and it will keep a record of all errors.

"I can't change it but I can apologize," Lenhard said.

Fishbein said that contractor Disko will be out–weather permitting–testing lights on both fields on March 31 after the burn-in period is completed. The engineering firm will be "looking at the highest density" levels to conform to the specs as presented to the planning board. "They also look at the spill lighting levels" particularly on N. Irving Street by the property lines and the right-of-way, he said.

"It's very important to our neighbors and us that they're checking the lighting levels on the playing fields" as well, Fishbein said.

What would happen if the lighting levels are wrong?, asked longtime board member Sheila Brogan.

"They come back and fix it," Fishbein responded. The superintendent said someone physically fixes it after completing an analysis of the data.

Resident Jim Morgan, who often speaks on behalf of the neighbors by the fields, said it's inappropriate that Disko or Musko be checking the specs, citing possible bias given that the contractors receive a fee for completing a project.

He had suggested an independent contractor but was rebuffed by Fishsbein, he said. Morgan said the neighbors have already gotten their own independent expert to check the specs.

The village council has said it wants to see the impact of lighting levels after the burn-in period before making its decision on the field policy on April 13. It has already said it has "serious concerns" with Stevens Field being on until 10 p.m.