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Fox News
Fox News
31 Jan 2023


Seventeen months later, the lights are still on, and DiGrande's story has gone viral across the country and internationally.

Even "Saturday Night Live" poked fun at the delicious digital debacle.

It's also causing deep divisions in Wilbraham, where the software snafu is costing taxpayers thousands of dollars a month.

Minnechaug Regional High School in Massachussets installed a lighting system that was designed to save money but has ultimately cost taxpayers thousands of dollars each month. 

Minnechaug Regional High School in Massachussets installed a lighting system that was designed to save money but has ultimately cost taxpayers thousands of dollars each month.  (Fox News)

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"As you know, sometimes technology works to our advantage and sometimes it doesn't. And this is, unfortunately, one of the situations where technology failed us," Di Grande told Fox News.

Bill Bontemp is a member of the local school committee and has been fielding complaints from residents for months. Luckily, he said the school finally has come up with a software workaround and is scheduled to make a repair over February break. 

"The promise of technology is amazing," said Di Grande. "However, we always have to keep in mind that there are limitations to every technology and you cannot eliminate the human factor."

Superintendent John Provost has similar advice.

The lights at Minnechaug Regional High School have stayed on, for 17 months and counting.

The lights at Minnechaug Regional High School have stayed on, for 17 months and counting. (Fox News)

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"I would say, avoid proprietary solutions," Provost advised. "Make sure that systems you install can be serviced by multiple vendors."

Along with the software fix, this time, the school is promising to also install a manual shutoff.

Fortunately, the school has announced a fix is on the way.

Fortunately, the school has announced a fix is on the way. (Fox News)

"Yeah, I'm just happy anyway that it gets fixed," Di Grande said. "It's tricky sometimes with technology."

Tricky technology, but eventually she says there's always a solution.

Douglas Kennedy currently serves as a correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in 1996 and is based in New York.