Superintendent Brenner Recommends Permanent Stadium Lights at DHS

When Superintendent Dan Brenner started his job in Darien nine months ago, he said he initially wasn’t sure about supporting permanent stadium lights for night games at the high school, a controversial subject for years in town, but he now says that he wants them.

“You know, I had started by saying I am not sure how I would weigh in, but in fact I’m here to say that this is the recommendation that I’m making,” Brenner told the Board of Education at its meeting Wednesday.

The current town policy of limited use of temporary lights has led to Darien not being able to host some sports games, which is disappointing, Brenner said:

“It’s interesting to live through a season or two and to watch how that unfolded for a whole bunch of kids,” he said. “It’s interesting to see that because there were no lights that the kids were unable to benefit from being able to play in front of their hometown fans at their own school.”

Lighting for sports fields at the high school has been limited because neighbors have complained that the lights are too visible from their homes. The high school has been restricted to the use of temporary lights at limited times, and measures have been taken to lessen the glare, such as covering windows at the school when they might reflect the light.

“Interestingly, and this is the part that kind of sways me, you already have lights,” Brenner said. “We would be ignorant to think otherwise. Lights go up every day. We sit and use manpower to block the windows, to make sure there isn’t reflection.”

Brenner said that while he wants lights used enough so that students can play more home games, the school will still have to regulate their use to minimize the annoyance to neighbors.

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The proposed stadium lights are part of a larger outdoor master plan for the high school campus. See Darienite.com’s article: “Superintendent Proposes Master Plan for High School Sports Facilities, Parking”

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“Much of what has to be considered is what are the limitations around the lights once they went up,” he said. “It’s not just about putting up lights and letting anybody own control of the key. There have to be very clear regulations. […]

“It’s not that we don’t have lights — what we have is kind of a bastardized version of lights, and I think it makes sense to come up with sensible procedures and regulations around when the lights can be used, and do it in a way that honors the fact that when kids have a chance and opportunity to play, that they have a chance to play on their own field.”

Students’ behavior can sometimes get rowdy at night games, Brenner said, and he indicated that’s part of the reason he initially wasn’t sure whether he would support the lights.

“As a [former] high school principal, I’m not a huge fan of lights because they typically cause discipline issues, and that’s part of what happens, just so we know — that kids show up and on a Friday night it’s a recipe sometimes for bad things to happen, and so it comes with a cost […]

“But you have to weigh everything, and when you weigh it all, that’s not a reason not to put them up. That’s a reason to be careful about how you implement it.”

The decision on installing and using permanent lights for night games is up to the Board of Education and the Planning and Zoning Commission, Brenner said, but he was recommending them.

Brenner said he made up his mind “in concert with the DAF [Darien Athletic Foundation, which has donated large amounts of money to the town for athletic facilities]. The DAF has not twisted my arm to do this.”

Referring to neighbors who have advocated for strong restrictions on night lights, he said, “I understand that there are going to be folks that are going to be upset about it, and I understand their point of view.” But he added later, “I do think it’s time to weigh in and let the chips fall where they may.”

Brenner spoke about the lighting as part of a broader discussion of a master plan for improving sports facilities at the high school, including a running track around the perimeter of the school grounds, the addition of two tennis courts and adding 41 parking spaces at the western end of the high school campus. The DAF wants to pay for the athletic facility improvements.

The superintendent did not give a specific plan or any details on what specific changes he would propose in the town’s lighting regulations.

Two Board of Education members said at the meeting voiced support for Brenner’s position.

“The time has come to vet this issue and resolve it,” said board member Michael Burke. “I agree that its time, definitely, definitely, for the lights.”

Board member David Martens said he also agreed.

You can watch Brenner’s comments on lights and the comments afterward starting at about the 2 hour, 6 minute mark on this video:

Board of Education 3-9-16 from Darien TV79 on Vimeo.