Will there be Friday Night Lights in Vienna?

VIENNA — A dozen residents of the Mathews School District voiced their opposition to plans by the board of education to move high school football games from Friday evenings to Saturday afternoons because of lighting problems.

“I just want to know you’re going to fix this problem,” said John Wise, whose brother David is a member of the board.

Superintendent Lee Seiple, however, told the residents that the move to Saturdays “is not a dead issue.”

Last month, Seiple said he was considering the change because he doesn’t want the district to spend the $23,000 replacement cost for a transformer should voters approve construction of a new stadium. The board expects to submit a building improvements plan to voters in next year’s primary election, but has not determined if a new stadium will be part of the proposal.

Seiple told the group during Wednesday’s board of education meeting that the transformer cannot be moved and that replacing all of the lights would cost $200,000.

“Do we want to spend that money and not know if the field will be the site for the future?” the superintendent said.

Seiple said there are still some options that might save Friday night football. He and other board members are looking into the possibility of getting a transformer donated to the district. The superintendent also disclosed he is investigating whether a generator from the nearby Vienna Air Base can be borrowed to provide the power.

Read more in Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com