The effort to install lights on Piner High’s athletic fields ran into a hiccup this summer when the firm hired to complete the environmental impact report for the project scaled back its operations and closed the office that had been overseeing the project.

Christopher A. Joseph & Associates closed their Petaluma office and confirmed this month in an email with Santa Rosa district staff that they want to be relieved of their contractual obligation to complete the work.

The district budget for the project is $50,000– a cost that is to be completely paid for by Prospector boosters.

But good news for backers of the proposal, the former CAJA employee who had been working on the Piner project is now with Design, Community & Development, the firm the school board is expected to approve to take over the project. The remaining unpaid portion of the contract is approximately $41,700.

If it is all approved at tonight’s school board meeting, the financial commitment is expected to remain the same and the project should remain on track.

The School Board meets tonight at 6 p.m. in Santa Rosa City Council chambers.