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Energy conservation program could
save millions for schools
By Jay Turner
Citizen Staff
The School
Committee last week continued its exploration into the brave new
world of energy conservation, as members unanimously agreed to
further investigate a proposal, put forth by Texas-based Energy
Education, Inc., that could potentially save the district more
than $3.4 million in heating and electricity over the next
decade.
At the
request of Superintendent John D’Auria, Energy Education’s
Regional President Chuck Fasnacht presented an overview of a
conservation plan at the August 21 School Committee meeting that
he said has not only been successfully duplicated in hundreds of
school systems across the country, but also one that is
risk-free by virtue of the company’s unique money-back
guarantee.
“We
guarantee that the savings will exceed the investment,” said
Fasnacht, explaining that the company would simply write a check
to the Canton Public Schools at the end of 12 months if the
schools had not saved at least enough in utility costs to cover
the fee paid to the company.
Having
already completed a feasibility study in Canton, however,
Fasnacht said the schools could easily save more than $4 million
in heat and electricity over ten years, out of which
approximately $500,000 would be paid to Energy Education spread
over 48 monthly installments.
Fasnacht
also said the company will guarantee a first-year savings of
more than $150,000, which he described as “very conservative”
given the district’s conservation potential identified in the
feasibility study.
The School
Committee’s willingness to seriously consider this proposal
comes on the heels of its decision last month to look into a
plan to have cost-saving solar panels installed on the roofs of
the school buildings. On July 23, members heard from CHS alum
Steven Strong of Solar Design Associates, who explained that a
third party would fund and manage the project, and in return
would receive revenues by selling the solar-generated energy
back to the Canton Public Schools at a reduced cost.
And while
the solar panels could reduce the price of electricity, Fasnacht
said Energy Education could help to dramatically lower the
consumption of all energy, including the large quantities of
natural gas that are used to heat the buildings in the winter
months.
According to
the company’s website, Energy Education promotes the concept of
“people-based conservation,” in which EEI’s experts identify
hundreds of consumption-reducing measures, and then impart that
knowledge, through a fully-trained “energy educator,” to all
levels of staff, including teachers, administrators, custodians
and food service workers.
Fasnacht
said the energy educator is typically a teacher or other staff
member who is looking for additional income, is comfortable
using technology, and most importantly, is an excellent
communicator who can motivate coworkers to follow the
energy-saving measures.
In addition
to ensuring compliance, the energy educator would also be
responsible for tracking the district’s savings through the use
of third-party software, a feature that Fasnacht said “adds
integrity to the program.”
While
acknowledging there is still more information that needs to be
obtained, the four School Committee members in attendance
Thursday night all agreed that the rewards that could
potentially come out of a relationship with Energy Education
appeared to far outweigh the risks.
“I think we
owe that to the town, because we can take that money and use it
for education,” committee member Paul Matthews said.
Business
Manager Ken Leon said the next step will be to continue
reference checks with some of the company’s other Massachusetts
clients, and then have the proposed contract reviewed by town
counsel. He said he will also have to submit a Request for
Proposals, although only as a legal requirement as no other
company is expected to put in a counter bid.
In other
School Committee news:
• Following
up on school enrollment analysis conducted last month, D’Auria
continued to show concern for class sizes in the fourth grade at
the Hansen school and the second grade at the Kennedy school,
both of which are currently above the School Committee’s
recommended guidelines.
For the
Hansen, the superintendent recommended they hire a part-time
kindergarten special educator to work the rest of the day as a
fourth grade teaching assistant. He also recommended hiring a
part-time teaching assistant to assist the second grade classes
at JFK. The School Committee unanimously approved both
recommendations.
• The
committee awarded a contract to CBE Technologies for $126,700.35
to install a multimedia foreign language lab at Canton High
School. D’Auria described the language lab as a “top priority
item on a wish list” at the time of the high school renovation.
It will be funded by the Martis Foundation Grant.
• The
committee approved the school improvement plans for each of the
five schools. Building principals each made brief presentations
highlighting major accomplishments from last year, as well as
new or expanded goals for this year.
All three
elementary principals, for instance, said they plan to continue
their involvement with Safe Routes, a national program designed
to encourage children to walk or ride their bikes to school. JFK
Principal Jen Henderson also announced she will be seeking grant
funding for an after school program, and Luce Principal Robie
Peter is currently working on a handbook for substitute
teachers.
There was
also a greater emphasis placed on addressing the needs of a
diverse student body. High School Principal Dr. Doug Dias
announced the continuation of the Ethnic and Cultural Diversity
Club, which middle school Principal Tom LaLiberte said he was
looking forward to implementing this year, and Hansen Principal
Bill Griffin spoke of a concerted effort to change the
complexion of the staff to make it “more reflective of the
school as a whole.”
August 28, 2008
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