South Putnam seeking to update lighting at high school, Fillmore Elementary

The South Putnam School Board moved to table the decision to install new lighting at the high school and Fillmore Elementary after hearing a proposal from Patricio Daneri, Managing Director for Energy Harness (the company chosen to install new lighting at Central Elementary).

The motion was made by Angie Nichols and was neither seconded nor voted on, but Daneri and Maintenance Supervisor Jim Samsel left with instructions to return in the future with cost estimates for doing the high school hallways and pool, the entire high school and Fillmore Elementary (inside and out) both separately and as one project.

Daneri had originally proposed to move forward with the high school hallways and the pool. He said that installing those now would cost $30,000, and complete payback in energy savings would accumulate in 10 months. He explained the swift payback by saying that the hallways would go from using three bulbs to two and the pool would receive a complete update.

"The swimming pool has had a lot of issues," Daneri said. "Those are 1,000-watt fixtures. We actually plan to replace those fixutres with a 200-watt unit. So we'll go from 1,200 watts -- accounting for the ballast -- to 200 watts."

But Daneri had also, at Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt and the board's request, brought cost estimates for installing new LED lighting throughout the entire high school. The estimate showed a total cost of $154,000.

"The cost on this is slightly better for the best cost we gave you for Central (Elementary) in an effort to hopefully get the project done," Daneri said. "We know cash flow may be an issue, so ... Energy Harness has created a $1 million (credit) line to help schools only that have worked with us before to them complete a project."

He went on to say that a four-year repayment plan provided a monthly payment of $3,400 at a fixed interest rate of 2 percent. Energy Harness would also subsidize the payment plan by 7 percent, which comes to about $50,000 to $60,000. Complete energy savings payback would be in three years. He also said they were willing to provide free labor, a $10,000 discount.

"If you choose to do the entire project, you will save more money next month than the payment would be," Daneri said. "So ... we can get everything converted ... without writing a check for a dime. There is no othe project to my knowledge that will pay for itself this quickly, that can get something like this."

But Bernhardt said that doing the entire project at once would require the corporation to bid out the project, adding that the bid cut-off is $50,000 to $75,000. He suggested that the board could vote to do just the hallways and pool without needing to open it up for bids.

"I'd like to just do it all at once in my personal opinion," President Hacker said. "So I'd like to postpone this until we get the bids back."

Heavin asked, "Well, in the meantime, you wanna have him look at Fillmore (Elementary)?"

An audience member had asked earlier whether the school was considering updates to Fillmore Elementary and if that would reduce the overall cost of the project.

"I don't think it's very fair," Nichols added, "if we do all of this stuff for the high school and Central (Elementary), when Fillmore (Elementary) is sitting over there needing addressed as well."

Bernhardt said it could be done, but that it would take several months to come back with the numbers.

"We'll work on it as fast as we can," he said, "and I'll keep (the board) updated."

Daneri asked if the corporation would be interested in the financing he presented.

"Because that is very limited," he said. "I'd like to try to set some of it aside. There's about $660,000 left as of right now."

Heavin responded," It looks to me that if you did finance it, basically your monthly savings in energy costs would pay your monthly payment. I think if we were to do this, we wouldn't want to cut a check for it. We would want to finance it."

Daneri said, "I cannot guarantee that the financing will be available. We have two schools that will probably move forward this week. I'll do my very best, I really will, but there's four other guys working with schools too."

He also said that he would like to the board approve moving forward on the hallways and pool.

"Well, let me ask you point-blank," Hacker said, "Why are you pushing a little bit for the hallways and pool tonight?"

Daneri responded, "Because every month that you don't do this you're losing $400 or $500."

Still, Hacker said, "I personally feel that we need to wait. Thirty days, if we just do that next month, is not going to cost us that much. We've got to have time to digest the numbers."

Nichols added, "The pool's not even being used right now," and then made the motion to table the issue for further information.

In regard to the installation at Central Elementary, Daneri said, "I want to thank all of you for what has been another successful installation. If you go to all the classrooms, it looks like the walls have been painted, the carpet has been changed and several teachers told me exactly that today. The parking lot ... it's a major improvement. It's a lot safer; it's a lot better."

In other developments:

-- New swimming blocks: The board approved the purchase of new starting blocks for the pool at a cost of $17,685.36 in a 4-1 vote, with Heavin abstaining. The winning bid came from Keiffer Swim Shop. Vice President Steve Cash announced at the last meeting that Head Swim Coach Anna Kendall had said that the blocks were illegal.

-- Claims: The board approved the August claims at $525,946.59, a decrease from last month of $93,219.46 and of $153,272.59 of the March-August average.

-- Budget advertisement: The board approved advertisement of the Proposed 2017 Budget, the Capital Projects Fund and the Bus Replacement Plan. All documents can be viewed at gateway.ifionline.org.

-- Board policy updates: The board approved the board policy updates, which were given at the last meeting.

-- Personnel report: The board approved the following personnel report, along with a long list of extra-cirricular activity hires, in a 4-1 vote, with Anthony Heavin dissenting:

Resignations: Christy Cash (Fillmore Elementary part-time instructional assistant); Amy Bates and Judith Foulke (Central Elementary part-time instructional assistants) and Morgan Schmitt (custodian); Amanda Graves (middle/high school spanish teacher) and Ann Marie Bunton (part-time food service).

New hires: Amanda Deakins (Fillmore Elementary preschool instructional assistant); Marcia Nichols, Brenda Hazlet and Sherry Brooks (Central Elementary part-time instructional assistant); Brandon Kinnaird (middle/high school Spanish teacher) and Paice Neimeyer (part-time food service); Michelle Polston (bus aide).

Heavin said his reason for dissenting was that the school corporation needs to update how it lists the ECA personnel report.

-- 1:1 device rollout: Tona Gardner, Director of Cirriculum, Instruction and Technology Intergration, reported that the 1:1 device rollout on Aug 2 had been successful, with most devices having been distributed then. All high school students now have a device.

-- Student enrollment: Bernhardt reported that student enrollment currently sits at 1,136, which is where it was this same time last year.

-- Fiber at Fillmore: Bernhardt announced that Endeavor Communications will be installing internet fiber at Fillmore Elementary.

"A couple months ago," he said, "(the board) have (Five-Star Technology Director) Steve Ricketts permission to update our tower at Fillmore (Elementary) .... And when you passed that you gave Steve the authority to proceed with (updating) the tower unless Endeavor (Communications) something in terms of fiber at a less expensive price."

He went on to say that installation is set to take place this fall. Liz Cheatham, who works for Endeavor, said that a few local major businesses would benefit as well.

"We're thrilled that Endeavor could do that," Bernhardt said, "and it's going to be a great thing."

President Hacker also commented, "It's important for people to come to the meetings, not only so they know what's going on in the school. A prime example is (Cheatham) coming in here not only as a patron but as a business. You solved a major issue that we were having and were going to have. And I want to say thank you to you and Endeavor both.

"Endeavor does a lot of things behind the scences. They did a heck of a deal down there at the Cunot Community Center. Those people, the community have access. They're a great asset to this community and we say thank you. We just need more people to show that they care about their school and take the time to come to the meetings. And we appreciate it."

The next South Putnam School Board meeting is set for Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Central Elementary music room.