Board of Education Approves Energy Conservation Project

All of the issues on this morning’s passed, Board President George J. Balasko said in an email.

One of the issues on the agenda was whether the city should take part in an energy conservation project introduced during its meeting on June 20, 2011. During that meeting, the Brewer-Garrett Company gave a presentation to the board, describing the ways the project would ultimately save the district both energy and money. 

The project will include all of the school buildings and the board office, said Larry Tomec, director of business services. The company will replace the 32-watt bulbs throughout the district with 25-watt bulbs and new ballasts, the part that generates power to the bulb, Tomec said. Lighting and fixtures will be completely replaced in .

The project is set to begin in early September, and work will be completed when there are no students in the building, Tomec said.

If it is completed by early October, Tomec said the project would be eligible for a rebate from FirstEnergy. The rebate will be worth about $203,000, leaving the balance of the project for the district at about $323,000. The project should be paid back in less than six years, Tomec said, and the remaining energy savings would go to the district.

The total energy savings are estimated to be about $826,000 over the 15-year period, he added.

Another issue on the agenda concerned waiver days that will be used for teacher training during the 2011-2012 school year. There would be no school for students on those days.

The dates approved by the board were Sept. 20, 2011 and March 6, 2012, said Cheryl Richardson, administrative assistant. Richardson noted in an email that the dates are not final yet and need to be approved still by the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Education Association and the Ohio Department of Education.