CLEVELAND, Tenn. — A decade after construction of the school was completed, Cleveland Middle School officials are asking for stadium lights.
Scott Carroll, athletic director, is bringing the issue to the city now.
Football games have been called off because of darkness, he said. And once, he remembers, cars were parked along the track to light it with their headlights for a track meet.
Mr. Carroll said the school has raised more than $500,000 toward the bleachers and lights, but it needs about $220,00 more.
“We’ve kind of hit the limit on what we could do,” he said.
“I understand money is tight, but we are charging money for the public to come and watch their children play,” Mr. Carroll said. “We charge people to sit on the ground.”
“This is probably a good time to be talking about this,” said city school board Chairwoman Peggy Pesterfield, “because we are working on our facilities’ long-range plan.”
The middle school stadium is beautiful, Mr. Carroll said, “and many people have commented on what wonderful facilities we have. Our fields are second to none. In some cases, our fields are better than (those at) some high schools. We take great pride in that.”