D. 87 candidates debate lights at Memorial Field

Candidates for the Glenbard High School District 87 school board are split on a proposal to install lights at Memorial Field at Glenbard West High School.

During a Daily Herald endorsement interview Wednesday, board President Rose Malcolm and incumbent Tom Trefilek said they support the controversial light installation plan, while incumbent Steve Sebby said he would vote against it.

Mary Ozog, a Glenbard West parent running for one of the three available seats on the school board, reaffirmed her position against the lights. She has previously spoken at board meetings and is a member of the Our Field, Our Town group, which has gathered a petition to oppose the measure.

A vote to send a variance application to the Glen Ellyn plan commission was scheduled to take place at the board’s March 7 meeting, but Malcolm said she planned to talk with Superintendent Mike Meissen to see if the vote would be delayed.

Malcolm said the vote likely will be before the April 5 election, but left open the door it could be taken after.

Sebby said the board has only looked at the proposal for six weeks, while other communities have spent years addressing similar plans. Following an unveiling of new artificial turf on the field in September, Sebby said he wanted to see a full year’s sports cycle to evaluate the site’s use.

If a vote is not delayed, Sebby said he will vote against the proposal.

Ozog said she was concerned the lights would cost far more than just the estimated $300,000 for installation, considering additional enhancements and utility costs. She called the proposed light installation “poor urban planning” because she said it would increase traffic around the landlocked school, which is already near a busy train line.

“The impact on neighbors is something that needs to be noticed,” Ozog said. “I’m concerned with needs versus wants, and I think we really need to consider which is which.”

Malcolm said residents have many legitimate concerns about the proposal, and it is still a work in progress. But she said she doesn’t agree with delaying consideration of it, since the village has asked the school district to send all proposed improvement plans over a five- to 10-year period in one bundle.

She said she would vote to send the variance application to the village.

Trefilek said he supports the light installation to benefit students, but isn’t sure if the park district should be allowed to use the field or outside groups should be able to rent it, which the current proposal allows.

As for the four board members not up for election this year, Robert Friend said he plans to vote for the lights because it would allow students to use the field to its full extent, now that artificial turf has been installed.

Richard Heim said he is unsure which way he’ll vote.

“I want to be able to effectively look at all data before making a decision,” Heim said. “There’s lots to discuss. I don’t think we’ve seen everything yet. We have to be pretty diligent given the level of community involvement.”

Yadav Nathwani refused comment, but said at a recent board meeting the proposal is moving too fast.

Board Vice President Tom Voltaggio couldn’t be reached for comment. But during a Feb. 7 meeting in which residents opposed to the plan addressed board members, Voltaggio said, “The sense of the community is overwhelming that this is something they do not want pursued.”