There were some misgivings about the proposed solar project expressed by members of the Wayland Board of Education Monday night.
Patrick Poer and Kelly Hipskind, co-founders of SunfundED of Indianapolis, Ind., proposed earlier this month that the district sign on to a 25-year agreement, promising a savings of between $6 million and $8 million million in energy.
Second thoughts chiefly were reported by Board Treasurer Toni Ordway.
“I’m not a fan of this,” she told colleagues at a work session. “I don’t want us to commit to this on a whim. I’d like to explore other options and opportunities.”
Board Vice President Pete Zondervan said he was less than happy about the aesthetics of the project and asked, “Can our buildings support the solar panels?”
Under the agreement, SundFundED would charge the school district about $17,000 a month for servicing the project, but the savings would be in the millions for electricity costs.
Trustee Janel Hott said, “We’ve talked about this off and on for years. We’re trying to save money by going green.”
Pat Velie, assistant superintendent for grounds and finances, said, “I’d like to think I’m green, but I’m also (fiscally) conservative.”
If the district wants to take advantage of a 26% federal tax abatement, it needs to make a decision before the year ends. Next year the break would amount to 22%.
Velie said, “I’m willing to wait for the 22% next year if it makes us more comfortable for making a long-term decision.”
She added the school system now spends about $550,000 a year in kilowatt usage with Consumers Power, but she acknowledged it’s not a good idea to make a hasty decision.
“I know (Superintendent) Dr. (Christina) Hinds and I wouldn’t feel comfortable in signing on to something rushed through in 10 days.”
SunFundED only recently completed a solar project for neighboring Otsego Public Schools and have received rave reviews from Superintendent Jeff Haas and other officials, purporting to save that district $5.3 million.
Closer to home, Martin Public Schools installed solar panels on all roofs in the district two years ago with a lease-to-purchase agreement between the district and Verde Solutions of Chicago
A SunFundED rep told the board Nov. 9, “The schools get the savings at little or no risk,” through execution of a service agreement.
Another rep explained, “You own the power, but we provide the service” at a flat fixed fee of 3.5%”
It was agreed the board will discuss the matter again and if it agrees to make the agreement, it wouldn’t be until next year.
In other business at its work session, the board:
- Noted requests have been sent out for hazard pay over the Covid-19 pandemic for teachers and staff has been sent to the federal government for grants.
- Noted the lack of interest in continuing the dual enrolment program with Lake Michigan College, with only one applicant this year. Support for current students will still be part of the program.
“It’s a good program, but it gets expensive if it isn’t completed and that causes issues,” explained Board President Cinnamon Mellema.
- Learned from Mrs. Velie that the school district is very near closing out paying off the science wing addition. Projects planned for the near future include replacing the gym floor, replacing some older buses in the fleet, high school roof repairs and pool repairs.
Estimated cost is just a little more than a million dollars.
- Agreed to earmark a savings of $24,172 for recently completed projects to the technology program.
- Agreed to continue the enhanced hybrid plan for going back to school. Dr. Hinds said she has been concerned the Allegan County Health Department will find it necessary to lower the district’s risk level from a D to an E, which would result in moving to virtual instruction only.
Ordway explained, “The problem is it (the spread of the Coronavirus) is happening in our personal lives, not in the schools.”
Zondervan wondered whether Wayland schools should just go to all virtual instruction for the rest of the calendar year in light of the recent worsening of pandemic statistics.
Mellema replied, “I think we should follow the guidelines of the Allegan County Health Department.”
