Students plan to petition for football lights at the Feb. 9 board meeting

When it comes to football lights, many students are staunch in their opinion: MVHS needs them.  In response to the overwhelmingly negative community response at the Jan. 25 district board meeting, students have organized a petition to be presented at the Feb. 9 board meeting.



Neighbors against the installation of the football lights have expressed concern about traffic, privacy, and teenage behavior at night time after games. 

Members of the ASB Leadership class are circulating petitions around campus. ASB Vice President senior Catherine Shieh, lead petitioner, is one of many athletes on campus who would be positively affected by the installation of football lights.

"I have never run my own track and field meet, and my sister [Connie Shieh, class of 2006 alumna] never got to run her own track and field meet," Shieh said.  "I’ve never seen a night game here — the simplest things that you’d figure that you’d get from a school."

Student spectators are also in support of football lights at MVHS, primarily due to school spirit and easier transportation.

"Home games should be at home," junior Arpit Tiwari said.  "A lot more people are willing to come support [MVHS] at [MVHS], and it’s just a different atmosphere when [our team is] playing at home."

Events such as Homecoming would also be taking place at MVHS if lights were installed.

"I think morale is going to go up, because just playing at our home field, this is where we represent [MVHS]," varsity football running back junior Victor Wan said.



The petition’s goal is to raise awareness and support by getting as many students and community members to sign the petition as possible. Although the petition itself cannot overturn any decision, it is intended to add support to the students’ point of view, as is attendance of students themselves.



"People being [at the meeting] shows how salient the issue is to us," Shieh said.  "And I don’t think that the board sees that yet — not that it’s their fault, but…we’re going to do what we can."



Shieh will be speaking for an allotted three minutes at the board meeting to present the student body’s point of view.



"I know that [as a senior,] I’m leaving, but at the same time I want to know that my school will be complete," Shieh said.  "Knowing that there are other people who [will] be able to run their own meets, and be able to see a simple soccer game or a hockey game, just makes the high school experience all that much better."



The board meeting on Feb. 9 will be held at the District Office.  The open session will begin at 7 p.m.

Check back at elestoque.org for more details following the meeting.