Pocahontas County BOE Votes to Advertise for Proposals for LED Lighting in Schools

Andy Cocina of Wendel Energy Services, a Clarksburg based energy services company made a presentation at the December 17^th Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting about their proposal to replace all of the aging lights in the school with state-of-the-art LED lighting systems. The proposal would pay for the new lighting, as well as replacements for any other energy using systems in the schools such as furnaces and boilers that the Board wishes to replace, using the utility bill savings these replacements would generate over a 15-year period. Wendell Energy has completed a free preliminary audit of those energy using systems in the schools which Cocina says shows that conservatively, the schools could save $72,000n annually in utility costs, which amounts to about a million dollars in savings over 15 years, as well as have new energy using items such as LED lighting which would pay for itself using those savings.  These energy service agreements have been authorized for the schools, if they choose to use them, under West Virginia Code 18-5-9A. He explained that the next step in the process would be for the advertise for his company as well as other energy service companies to submit proposals to do this work. Cocina said that if selected, Wendell Energy would perform the Investment Grade Audit of the schools, which normally costs $30,000, at their own risk, meaning that if the schools review the results of the audit and decide to not move forward with the project, Wendell Co. would eat the cost of the audit themselves, but if the project is approved by the Board to proceed, the $30,000 would by rolled into the financing and ultimately paid for out of the approximately million dollars in 15 years of energy savings. He also said that if there are any savings above the amount needed to pay for the replacement and installation of the new lighting or other equipment, that would go directly to the Board, and all energy savings after the 15-year financing is paid off would go to the Board.  Ron Hall, Director of Maintenance for the schools said that the highest amount of energy savings would come from replacing the old florescent lights and ballasts with LED lighting, and that is what he is interested in, not replacing boilers and furnaces which have much lower energy savings. The Board voted to advertise for proposals from energy service companies, but Board President joe Walker said other factors that could affect the amount of energy costs saved over 15 years such as the possibility of schools being replaced or closed needs to be considered before they make any final commitments to this type of project.

In his Mr. Beam’s Superintendent’s Report and special recognitions, Mr. Beam congratulated the Green Bank Elementary/Middle School’s Robotics Team for winning first pace in the State competition and moving to the National finals. He also congratulated the PCHS Forestry Team for winning first place in the National Forestry competition, and said they would be recognized for this on January 9^th at the State Board of Education in Charleston. He also congratulated Mrs. Dennison because the school’s Food Services received a certification that only 7% of schools receive. Beam also congratulated Joanna Bert Kinderman, the Schools’ Math Coach, for being selected by Education Week as one of the three top national education leaders in the U.S. Beam also reported that Cara Rose will be participating with the schools’ spring Job Fairs and that for the first time, they will hold some of these job fairs at out of state Universities because West Virginia is graduating fewer certified teachers every year.

Taylor Tegtmeyer, the Student Representative to the Board, delivered his last report. He will be replaced by Jarod Liptrap in January. Taylor reported that the PCHS Christmas Concert, performed by the school’s Band, Choir and Jazz Band, was held on December 16^th. He also reported on the sports teams, and that the school held a Christmas Dress Week, the National Honor Society read to the Hillsboro and Marlinton Elementary Schools and will do so for Green Bank next month.

The Board approved its routine financial matters as well as a resolution, retroactive to December 3^rd, between the Board and the WV Department of Transportation for a.$15,250 Grant to purchase and install two school zone flashing light warning systems near the Hillsboro Elementary School.

They Approved a list of Community and Parent Volunteers for the schools and approved Kenneth Beezley and Joshua Hardy as 4^th and 5^th grade basketball coaches at Hillsboro Elementary School.

They also approved the Green Bank Elementary-Middle School Team Radioactive Lego Robotics team to travel to Detroit, Michigan for a national competition from April 21^st to April 28^th, 2019, to be paid for by County contributions and fund raising.

The Board approved a professional and service personnel agenda that can be found at the end of this story.  

They held a “matters of the Board” session, followed by an Executive Session on a personnel matter that did not require a vote then adjourned.

PERSONNEL AGENDA

 December 17, 2018

 Professional and Service Personnel

PERSONNEL 

Marlinton Middle School 

EMPLOYMENT:                 Of the following as After School Tutors effective December 19, 2018 through April 30, 2019 at the rate of $20 per hour, 2 hours per day, 1 day per week, not to exceed 26 weeks. Position to be divided equally between 2 individuals.

Denise Sharp

Jeanette Wagner

Pocahontas County High School:

RESIGNATION: LISA A. MCCARTY, as Custodian III retroactive to the end of the day, November 23, 2018.

Pocahontas County Schools:

EMPLOYMENT:                 ROSS D. BOGGS as Substitute Teacher effective December 19, 2018 for the remainder of the 2018 – 2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay.

CONSENT TO CHANGE: GARY BEVERAGE as Technology Systems Specialist from a contract term of 299 days to a contract term of 210 days effective for the 2018 -2019 school year.