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Totally predictable law suit against Sequoia Union High chool District

Original post made by Peter Carpenter, Atherton: Lindenwood, on Aug 14, 2010

Last January I called on the SUHS District to enter into discussions with their MA High School neighbors to develop a mutually acceptable plan for night lighting:

Posted by Peter Carpenter, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Jan 26, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Peter Carpenter is a member (registered user) of Almanac

menlores states:"Fortunately the school district doesn't need to have the approval of the residents near the M-A campus. Just do it! It is long overdue....."

It is true that the school district does not need the LEGAL approval of the residents near the M-A campus, but wouldn't it be nice if there was outreach by the School Board to its neighbors on this and other high impact issues?

Government decisions made without consideration of and input from those impacted are arrogant and will ultimately backfire."

The District refused to do so.
And now the inevitable has happened:

"Atherton group says plan to light up M-A field violates local and state laws
By Bonnie Eslinger Daily News Staff Writer
Posted: 08/14/2010 03:00:00 AM PDT
Menlo-Atherton High School's varsity football team is scheduled to play its first night home game of the season on Oct. 29, but it could end up being a far cry from "Friday Night Lights."
Although a plan was approved in May to install temporary stadium lights for the school year, a group of Atherton residents sued this week to keep the fields dark.
A group called Protect Atherton's Residential Character filed the lawsuit Wednesday against the Sequoia Union High School District and its board of trustees. The group's members are anonymous except for one who lives next to the high school.
The suit claims that the five, 53-foot-tall temporary light posts at Coach Parks Field would violate Atherton's height limits. It also alleges the school district circumvented an environmental review of the lights plan by incorrectly using a state law that exempts "minor accessory structures."
In addition, the suit says night sports events could create traffic, parking and public safety problems.
Joan Dove, the only plaintiff named, has a son who played football for Menlo-Atherton and has been a supporter of the school's football association. She said the group of residents didn't want to take legal action, but, after repeatedly voicing their concerns about the lights at various meetings to no avail, felt they had no other choice.
"Nobody wanted to do this," Dove said. "We've been trying to work with the school."

**************************

The SUHSD's arrogance will once again prove costly.

Comments (8)

Posted by Just Wondering
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Aug 15, 2010 at 9:28 pm

"The group's members are anonymous except for one who lives next to the high school."

C'mon, Mr. Lawsuit, admit that you're in on this as well.


Posted by Peter Carpenter
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Aug 15, 2010 at 9:31 pm

Just Wandering just wandered back in from the playground - maybe he was out looking for the lights.

Sorry, the lights haven't been put up yet and hopefully won't be put up.


Posted by Roy Thiele-Sardina
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Aug 15, 2010 at 9:51 pm

The High School needs those lights. My daughter is a soccer player at M-A and they have to call games due to darkness all the time. It is DANGEROUS to play in the dark, the girls and boys cannot see what is going on, and there have been several needless injuries due to the darkness. Their season is form November through February when the days are SHORT.

As to living next to a high school and not expecting to affected. Give it up, if you live next to a school you should have an expectation that the school will create noise.......

Roy


Posted by Just Wondering
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Aug 15, 2010 at 9:56 pm

So, Peter, once again:
Are you a formal plantiff in this litigation or are you just kicking in money for it behind the scenes?

C'mon, you don't want to be like that weasily grocery union guy who hid out behind that other anonymous lawsuit, do you?


Posted by Peter Carpenter
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Aug 15, 2010 at 9:57 pm

Roy all the SUHSD needs to do is to engage with its neighbors rather than trying to act like an arrogant bully. I am confident that there is a win-win solution BUT the District has to be prepared to work with its neighbors.


Posted by WhoRUpeople
a resident of another community
on Aug 16, 2010 at 9:11 am

Its too bad that many people who read and post on this forum have such short term memories--or maybe its selective retention. This is yet another example in a growing list of instances where the SUHSD repeatedly and consistently displays it arrogance and lack of regard for the opinions of citizens who live around their campuses or in the district/ Just to remind those with memory challenges of a fcouple of recent gems--the MA Performing Arts Center, built without benefit of any environmental or architectural review or even a traffic study-why, because "we didn't have to do one". The behind closed door selection of a new Superintendent, without any thought of public input or doing a search, -- why, because "we didn't have to". This isn't about whether or not the kids need lighted fields, or whether or not the MAPAC was worth the millions it cost, or whether or not the new superintendent is well qualified; its about an elected body of officials (the district school board) should adequately seek public input and exhibit at least some level of transparency in executing their elected roles. Its obvious to me that a couple of new faces on the Board and a new face in the superintendents office have done nothing to change Gemmaville.


Posted by Peter Carpenter
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Aug 16, 2010 at 10:23 am

WhoRUPeople states:"This is yet another example in a growing list of instances where the SUHSD repeatedly and consistently displays it arrogance and lack of regard for the opinions of citizens who live around their campuses or in the district"

How true. In this case the School Board assures the neighbors that the lights will just be used for football games and yet Roy states "My daughter is a soccer player at M-A and they have to call games due to darkness all the time. It is DANGEROUS to play in the dark, the girls and boys cannot see what is going on, and there have been several needless injuries due to the darkness." Clearly the District is not putting all of its cards on the table.

This will not turn out well unless the District makes a good faith and public outreach to the community. Secret meetings with carefully chosen neighbors do not constitute acceptable outreach. I am sure that both the Lindenwood Neighborhood Association and the Atherton Civic Interest League would be pleased to assist.


Posted by WhoRUpeople
a resident of another community
on Aug 16, 2010 at 2:05 pm

I just read the article in the Daily Post reporting on this issue, and came away even more convinced the Board just doesn't "get it". the Board President, Olivia Martinez, was " puzzeled: by the law suit, stating that some neighbors had suggested they put up temporary lights before installing permanent ones and that was a "good idea" and is what we're dong so whats the problem. The problem, Olivia, is just because you hear someone suggest something that supports what you want to do, doesn't mean you have consensus. But more concerning was a statement by another Board member, Alan Sarver, who claims that the district "continues an environmental study of permanent lights". If this is true, I would ask Mr. Sarver, please provide the name of the professional consulting firm that is conducting this study, and if you would be so kind, direct me to where on the District's web site I can find the sscope of work/specification being utilized in that study.


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