Alpine ISD Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Feb. 19 and heard from a McDonald Observatory representative.
During public comments, Bill Wren, a fervent dark sky advocate from the observatory, addressed the board about the district’s plans to add new LED lighting at the elementary school. Wren argued that the proposed fixtures were too bright to comply with dark sky ordinances and proposed lower wattage. Wren later told the Avalanche there were problems with lighting at the middle school at the new bus barn, and that the City of Alpine was aware of the issue. He said that upon review of the lighting specifications from the contractor, Fort Worth-based Aquila Environmental, they failed to comply with the city’s dark sky ordinance. Next to address the board was Dallas Baxter, president of the Big Bend Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. Baxter stressed keeping the skies dark for birds, insects, and plants, saying, “We are so blessed to be out in Brewster County, and we need to keep this place special and dark. We can do that if we keep the light down. What a thrill for children in this school to know that their campus is helping the planet.”
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