The South Central School Board has vote to move forward with requests for proposals for the creation of solar energy fields at each of the district’s three campuses in hopes of avoiding huge increases in electric costs in the future.
Energy Management Consultant Ross Rubenacker with Affordable Gas and Electric told the board those bidding on providing the solar power are seeking the tax credits available from the federal and state government that would cover at least 85-percent of the construction cost. The owners of the solar fields would also be responsible for maintenance.
Superintendent Kerry Herdes says an acre to an acre and a half at the South Central High School, Middle School, and Grade School have been identified for the fields to be installed.
“We are very optimistic on solar. We think that we can really do some things here to not allow us to have the electrical rates that are continuing to increase right now to affect us a lot. We think we have ample space and we can make it look nice and still not clutter up our campuses with our green space and we think we can do that at all 3 buildings and do something to really effect our rates and no cost to the district.”
Right now South Central School District is on a contract that gives them power for 4.83-cents per kilowatt hour. That’s less than half the current market price. Herdes says the goal is to keep the district’s electric rate at around five cents per kilowatt hour for the next 20 to 25 years. Under the plan, the schools would also still be hooked up for regular power and as a safety precaution
to workers the solar power would go off during electrical outages. Rubenacker will return to the August board meeting to review companies that submitted proposals to build the solar systems.
Herdes also announced he has submitted the school district’s $2-million ESSER III grant application to the federal government.
“We have submitted ESSER III and the biggest focus is the connection point from the middle school to the gym where our kids aren’t walking outside. There will be an air cleansing available there and also a safety issue we will knock down. With that we will try to put another state of the art bathroom for boys and girls there that is up to speed and get us the cleaning and sanitizing that we can accomplish fairly easily.”
The grant would also cover two new busses and reimburse the district for some staff salaries for those assisting students who have fallen behind due to remote learning as a result of COVID-19.
Herdes reviewed the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30th. He says all funds will end in the black with an overall surplus of $445,000.
A new three year contract agreement was approved with the support staff union. Members will get the yearly $1 an hour increase from the minimum wage adjustments.
In personnel action, the board approved Jordan Geiler as assistant high school cheerleading coach, approved the resignation of Kasey Spangenberg as support staff member, hired Danielle Chasteen as a part time Psychology teacher, and approved the FMLA leave of absence for Betty McElyea beginning August 29th.
