Long Range Master Plan for Site

It is intended that each field use policy will operate under the umbrella of a district wide field use policy which sets forth district wide policies and procedures for the use of athletic fields and lighted stadiums, including prioritization for use, guidelines for times of use and manner of use, and measures to mitigate negative impacts to the community. The Field Use Policy for Point Loma High School is the first of several site-specific field use policies which will be brought forward by staff as athletic fields are upgraded and stadium lighting is added to fields.

As part of the process to create a Field Use Policy an ad hoc committee was formed consisting of Point Loma community members and staff with the purpose to work collaboratively to create a policy for Point Loma High School that is good for the school and fair to the community and surrounding neighborhood. This committee met several times with District staff to discuss and offer input to create a field use policy that meets the needs of the Point Loma Community.

During this process a community group brought forward several concerns about the Field Use Policy. Below you will see some of the concerns and how they have been addressed in the Field Use Policy.

CONCERN: The Policy would not be enforceable. Compliance would be “monitored” informally and infrequently through another set of ad hoc meetings to be hosted by the Point Loma Cluster rather than a body with authority and a community-wide base constituency; 

>>POLICY: ANY CHANGE IN THE FIELD USE POLICY WOULD TAKE A BOARD ACTION / BOARD MAJORITY. COMPLIANCE MONITORED SEMI ANNUALLY THROUGH AD HOC COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF POINT LOMA CLUSTER SCHOOLS FOUNDATION, PENINSULA COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD AND POINT LOMA HIGH SCHOOL.

CONCERN: The Policy would set no limits on the frequency the lights can be used. The only “limitation” would be that the number of “events” (where teams compete and draw spectators) should be limited to no more than 18 to 20 per year, with even that “cap” being subject to being exceeded for a number of reasons, including SDUSD staff discretion;

>>POLICY: THE FIELD USE POLICY DOES SET LIMITS - 18 EVENTS PER YEAR, PLUS PLAYOFF GAMES, NOT LATER THAN 10:30PM FOR EVENTS. NON EVENTS SUCH AS PRACTICES LIMITED TO 7:30PM.  THIS NOT SUBJECT TO STAFF DISCRETION.

CONCERN: The Policy would permit the field lights to be used every day of the week throughout the year since they can be used for team practices and other non-“events.”

>>POLICY: LIGHTS FOR NON EVENTS WOULD ONLY BE 6 MONTHS A YEAR (WHERE SUNSETS AFTER 7:30PM) PLUS THE 18+ EVENTS

CONCERN: The Policy provides that the field lights will go off by 7:30 p.m., but even then can remain on later if “use of the lights [is needed] to allow completion of games and practices which begin during daylight hours but carry over into darkness.”

>>POLICY: THE FIELD USE POLICY PROVIDES FOR EVENTS UNTIL 10:30PM OR COMPLETION - PRACTICES BY HARD STOP AT 7:30PM.

CONCERN: Exceptions to the Policy can be granted by the SDUSD Superintendent “or his/her designee.” In essence there are no real limitations. It’s all in the School District’s discretion.

>>POLICY: EXCEPTIONS BY SUPERINTENDENT IS FOR EVENTS ONLY. POLICY INTENT IS NO EXCEPTIONS FOR PRACTICES.