By Stephen Smoot
Earlier this month, Hardy County Schools held their second regular meeting. One of the first items on the agenda was Auda Blackwell, back from ESG to share some final details from the energy savings plan they will implement.
First she thanked school officials for “all the work they do to keep us on that timeline.” Blackwell then introduced her engineer, manager, and two solar experts.
ESG specializes in “energy conservation measures,” which it will install in three area schools.They selected the “highest priority needs” in terms of importance and how the projects can improve savings.
Moorefield Elementary School will get an HVAC project, East Hardy Elementary will have an emergency generator project. This will include improved controls and monitoring to reduce considerably the chance of losing expensive caches of frozen food.
Also, HCS will have a 10 year facilities plan. The federal Solar Investment Tax Credit will help to defer some of the cost of the projects.
As she did the previous time, Blackwell showed examples of projects elsewhere. One was completed in New York and it also used the tax credit. Blackwell stated that the school system would likely get the tax credit back in a lump sum.Also, like last time she came, she reiterated that the school system would have no financial responsibility to adjustments to the needs of the project as it is completed.
ESG removed a project for Moorefield Intermediate School because it lacked “bang for the buck.” The projects named would cost approximately $2.6 million, but the tax credit will total just under $1 million. Other savings gets the County cost down to about $984,000.
Later on, the Board voted to approve the contract with ESG.
Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Strawderman delivered a presentation on preschool. She related that enrollment sometimes runs into issues. It opens in January with the deadline set in May. While one must meet the deadline to secure a spot, some enroll into the summer.
Hardy County does provide transport. Strawderman said “it’s not a required thing, but we do it.”
She went on to discuss the creative curriculum and also family style eating during meals. Finally, She praised Pam Swick, saying that “If Pam Swick did not exist, there would be holes in preschool at Hardy County Schools.
Orrin Staggers, counsel for the school system, shared that the religious exemption for vaccines this year is a dead issue, but could come back in the State Legislature next session.
Next, Board members discussed the Birth to Three program and how is hands off its caseload of children who need extra support to the school system.
Somewhat later in the meeting, Superintendent Sheena Van Meter shared a few “unfounded community concerns” reported to her from area social media. The first involved a bus that ran on a delay when the substitute bus driver could not make the run. At first, HCS reported that a mechanical issue had caused the delay because the wrong information got reported.
HCS cleared it up the moment they knew different, Van Meter stated. Sending out the wrong information, she noted, is “of no benefit to us.”
Next, Van Meter told how lights at East Hardy Elementary had shut off due to an electrical issue. With the electrician back from illness, he is expected to repair the 16 lights affected. Also at the same school, some toilets had leaked during work to restore a water line. It took from Oct 6 to Oct 13 because of delays in parts.
Finally, the Board and Superintendent discussed financial benefit from the proposed Old Fields Solar project. The company installing and maintaining the solar energy production facility may receive a PILOT designation. Hardy County Schools may, however, receive funds from the company as if they paid taxes. If the agreement does not work out that way, the school system may benefit from a community fund established by the company.
Representatives from Old Fields Solar will address the Board on the Dec 1 meeting.
