JAY – Stock car racing mogul and Paris businessman Bob Bahre said he wanted to do something good for the town’s children when he decided to donate a set of high-power outdoor lights to the Jay School Committee earlier this month.

“Jay has been good to me,” Bahre said. “I had the lights and they needed them. Hey, its for the kids; you do what you can for the kids.”

The lights were to be installed at the NASCAR racetrack in Loudon, N.H., that Bahre owns, but became surplus. Bahre said he wasn’t sure of their value.

The lights will be used on the school soccer field for night games and to light other events as needed, the School Committee decided when accepting the donation.

“This is not exclusively for soccer, or strictly for high school. We want this to be a school project,” said resident and parent Rae-Ellen Roy.

The lights need bulbs and lenses, but volunteers are standing by ready to help raise funds for that and to install the lights on the field, Roy said.

Committee Chairman Clint Bruce said he welcomed the donation but the costs of bulbs and lenses isn’t in the school budget.

“We’re willing to fundraise for any additional costs for installation, replacement and groundwork.” Roy said.

But Vice Chairman Mary Luce wanted to clarify just what would be expected from the school.

“The more we talk about volunteerism, donating, fundraising, the more you need a clear understanding of what will be expected from the school,” Luce said. “You need a memorandum of understanding. You need to know what we’re able to provide before a whole lot of energy is put into it.”

Bruce said Roy should get a formal request before the board as soon as possible.