(Novato, CA) … The Novato Unified School District (NUSD) and the Coalition to Save San Marin (CSSM) are pleased to announce a settlement agreement has been reached to allow San Marin High School to use of the stadium lights and sound system.

The settlement was reached in June and allows San Marin High School to use the stadium lights and sound system for athletic games and practices once a Stipulated Judgment is submitted to the Court and a Final Order is issued and the revised Administrative Regulations (ARs) are adopted by the Board of Trustees.  The adoption of the revised AR’s is expected to occur before school starts in August.

“On behalf of the Novato Unified School District, we’re very pleased to reach an agreement with the CSSM.  In the past two months, CSSM has been willing to allow both the football and soccer teams the use of the lights for their senior night and last game.  San Marin, and NUSD, demonstrated the value we place on our neighbors and the willingness to compromise so all succeed.  Both parties demonstrated good faith, good will, trust, and tremendous commitment to a negotiated settlement,” commented Board President Ross Millerick.

“The Coalition to Save San Marin wants to thank the NUSD Trustees, Superintendent and counsel as well as CSSM members and counsel for vigorous pursuit of this settlement these last 8 months.  This settlement is a win-win for all parties – students, neighbors, parents, the Court, sports boosters, and all in our SMHS and Novato community. The Settlement is a reminder that good people can move through dialogue and action from disagreement to solution based on mutual respect and benefit.”

“All of us must now commit ourselves to make this settlement work for the mutual benefit of our whole San Marin & Novato communities,” stated Mike Joly on behalf of the Coalition to Save San Marin.

In October 2015, a group of parents and boosters approached the Superintendent to learn how to bring forward a proposal to install lights at the San Marin stadium to the Board of Trustees with the objective to:

  • Provide extended availability of the athletic fields to improve academic performance by minimizing early class dismissal and missed instructional time for student athletes.
  • Allow for the scheduling of games at times when students, parents, and community members can more easily attend the events, which would increase school spirit and increase revenue from ticket purchases.
  • Provide nighttime opportunities for students to gather to cheer on their team, offering an alternative to going to parties or other unhealthy recreational activities, in an alcohol-free environment.
  • Improve athlete safety by providing superior lighting conditions during evening practices and sports events.
  • Improve safety by minimizing incompatible uses from sharing the field (e.g. lacrosse teams and track/field teams practicing at the same time means that lacrosse balls may hit runners on the track).
  • Improve the public address system to focus and contain sound within the stadium.

Over the next several years, NUSD met with community members and San Marin High School neighbors, developed, and submitted Environmental Impact Reports, installed the new lighting and sound system, and collaborated with the Coalition to Save San Marin to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

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