UPDATED: Richfield School Board Calls Special Session To Revisit Lights Decision

Last Update: 2 p.m. on June 26, 2012

June 11, it has now been called to a special session on Thursday to reconsider the project and decision.

The decision proved to be quite controversial, with many community members—both for and against the project—e-mailing and calling board members over the past two weeks. were mostly in opposition to the project, however, there were a few champions as well. The project takes $200,000 of rents from the newly revamped turf field to pay for the lights over the next seven years.

In order to call a special session, the board chair (Sandy Belkengren), the board clerk (David Lamberger) or three board members (at least one being from the original four who voted in favor of the measure) need to make a request. agreed to revisit the issue, hitting the need for three members and joining and John Easterwood in requesting the special session.

Ashmead told Patch his decision to call the special session was not to say he changed his mind on the issue, but rather to let those concerned know they've been heard.

"My biggest concern for the district is passing the referendum in the fall," he said. "I was getting calls from other significant people in the community, not just parents. ... I saw the need to try to calm things down and I thought the best way to do that is to listen to what these people were saying [and go ahead with a special session."

The special session will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28 at the Richfield Public Schools District Offices at . The meeting is open to the public.

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