Youth football may light up field
By Diane C. Beaudoin JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

Oakmont Pop Warner tiny mite standout, Ryan Mott, plays last year against Gardner. The youth football organization wants to put in permanent lighting on the Overlook field. FILE PHOTO

Members of the Oakmont Pop Warner Football program has proposed to install lighting on the lower field so rental fees can be avoided, and the area would be considered safer for all concerned.

Michael Garofolo, president of the organization, told the school committee on Tuesday, Sept. 11, that they have been renting lighting at a cost of between $4,000 and $5,000 a season.

"It is very noisy, and it also has some safety concerns for us. There are always dark spots on the field where someone could get hurt," he explained.

Pop Warner officials have looked into permanent lighting, and said they determined that with all the costs included it could pay for itself within one or two seasons.

Pop Warner Coach Gary Blanchard also addressed the committee with the technical aspect of installing permanent lighting. Blanchard is also a lineman for Unitil.

"We would install three poles, with six fixtures on each pole for coverage. It is within our budget to purchase the lights, and maintenance of them," he said.

Blanchard said each pole would be 45 to 50 feet high, and with the cost of the poles and lights it would be under $5,000.

"Our executive board voted to spend $6,000 to $7,000 to have this done," he added.

School Committee Member Laura Weiderman expressed concern about allowing the lights to be installed on the field.

"I am very hesitant to go ahead with this until a full agreement is in place. We've been this road before. I don't want poles, holes, and running wires around until I'm sure we should do this," she said.

School Committee Member Keith Glenny disagreed, noting, "there is no down side to this. We don't need this, they do, so they will make sure it's done right. They can have the poles, but no lights until they have our okay."

Blanchard said all work will be done with Unitil workers, and all costs will be the responsibility of the Pop Warner Organization.

The Committee voted to allow Superintendent Dr. Michael Zapantis to meet with Pop Warner officials and allow the work to begin, but the final vote will come at a later date as to allowing the lights to be used.

In other business:

- Zapantis told the committee that the district's principals have taken it upon themselves to attend a two day professional development called Understanding by Design.

"This development allows for very unique rolls by learning to become trainers for teachers," he stated.

Zapantis said assistant principals, along with himself, also attended the development program, and it was very worthwhile.

"This was a wonderful thing for us to all do, especially where we had to eliminate

50,000 from our budget for professional development for our teachers," he added.

- Zapantis also informed the committee that the Ashburnham-Westminster district, along with four other local districts has been selected to provide Mass. Leadership Organizations within the area.

"This will provide for here, and the four adjoining districts a coach assigned to each principal for leadership training. It is for the future leaders of the school systems. This is where the future principals, assistant principals and superintendents come from," he said.

Zapantis said it is a very distinct honor to have been selected for the program.

"It is a pilot program and we are very honored to take part in it," he concluded.