District maintenance staff began replacing the east gym’s lighting in late January, completing the process in early February. The fluorescent lights were replaced with LEDs, improving visibility and energy efficiency. 

Discussions of a lighting upgrade, Community’s Athletic Director Mr. Nic Kearfott said, began five years ago, but finding funding for the improvement proved to be a “roadblock.” 

“The last two years,” Kearfott said, “we’ve really been pushing harder to try to get [the lighting] fixed. We tried to explore some grants through our electrical company,” but “there weren’t any.”

The lighting overhaul was funded through Unit 5’s maintenance budget, part of a larger energy-saving initiative. 

“The hope is that we’re going to be able to get some grants down the road to switch over some additional facilities,” Kearfott said, something he believes will be possible once the district’s energy provider notes the cost-effectiveness of the new system.  

Beyond cost cutting, Kearfott said the new lights improve the overall experience in the gym.

The upgrade improves the overall visibility, enhancing fan’s experience at basketball and volleyball games while improving the quality of photographs like the team photos taken for the yearbook. 

“You can see how much of a difference the new lights [make],” Kearfott said. After the change, the east gym no longer “feel[s] like you’re sitting in a dungeon.”