The South Central School Board has agreed to have AEG survey on each of the district’s three campuses to determine if solar fields could be added.
Superintendent Kerry Herdes says his goal is to cap future energy costs.
Herdes says he’s not interested in any system that would require the district to issue bonds upfront to be paid back through savings.
“We’ll have AEG come in and do a site survey to start with. What we are looking to do is some of the same things that other districts around us have done, lock in some rates for a period of time, whether it be 20 or 25 years, knowing that the prices are going to continue to escalate for electrical costs. We’re looking to see if we have enough green space to put those panels on the ground and not be too concerned if a roof needs to be replaced. Then have them come in with some recommendations on what might be good for us to do.”
Herdes says the additional $73,111 the district will receive from a miscalculation of school aid by the Illinois State Board of Education will go into the general education fund. He says it will give the district a good financial boost to end the fiscal year.
The board agreed to raise the pay of sports officials by $5 per game and in a few instances $10 per game. South Central Middle School will stay in the Illinois Eastern Sports Association even though there was be a cost of $1,165 next year. In the past, there was no cost to be part of the association, but Herdes says it has been hit hard by COVID-19 cancellations.
The board congratulated this year’s Middle School valedictorian Kaitlyn Croutch and salutatorian Miranda Yates.
The board took the following personnel action following a closed session:
- Approved the resignation for Renae Meyer to retire effective July 31st.
- Approved hiring Kendall Burleyson as a certified employee for the 2022-2023 school year.
- Approved Courtney Roth as an assistant coach for the 2022-2023 school year.
- Appointed Audrey Prusa as a Yearbook sponsor and Head High School Girls basketball coach for the 2022-2023 school year.
