0012025. [Music] >> Miss Beers >> here. Mr. Bennett here. >> Mr. Brown here. >> Mr. Chery >> here. >> Miss Crawl >> here. Marvin Kuster >> here. >> Mr. Johnston >> here. >> Mr. Sorski >> here. >> Mr. Veleski >> here. Pledge, please. [Music] >> To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Please remain stand for the moment of silence, please. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. We're going to enter into our committee of the whole work session at this point in time. Our first uh item tonight is a presentation uh by Next Era Energy Solutions. We've got uh Brad Birfield, David Christian here to represent that. So I'm going to turn it over.
002Uh thanks gentlemen for being here tonight. I know the board's looking forward to hearing it from you. >> Should we just sit here? >> You can sit. You can stand however you want to present. >> So I'll just start off. I'll introduce ourselves and cut a little bit and then Brad will get more technical into it. So >> So we're here to answer any questions about the solar array. I'm assuming that you guys have have have at least seen the presentation and the because we we we helped you guys uh as the assessor to apply for the grant. So, um so so the big thing that we're here tonight for to talk about is the whole project on a whole, but also in the last month or so with the uh the bill that passed
003through the the the administration. um there there there becomes a a little bit of a timeline where it it it it's more attractive for you to do something sooner rather than later. And what I mean by that is with the grant that we applied for and we got through the state, we have three years to use that and if we don't use it, it goes away. But the inflation reduction act, which is the other piece that offsets a big chunk of the solar array, um there there's a time limit on that now. And it looks like and we're still evaluating it because all the information isn't completely out, but it looks like the project has to be started by July 2nd in order to be eligible for the inflation reduction act money. Um, now when
004you talk about the process that we have to go through with running an RFP, all the guidelines around the the the solar for schools grant that takes some time to do that. So, um, you know, we're not here to tell you to like twist your arm to say you need to do this project today, but if you want to take advantage of the inflation reduction act money, which is 40%, I think 30 plus den for you of the project cost, we need to start getting the process rolling. Um, so, so we can take advantage of that money as well. And um and outside of that, uh Brad can go through the the uh the economics of the project. Um but uh I just wanted to kind of stress that that that's kind of >> You
005said July 2nd. >> Yeah. The the as of right now it says that the projects have to be started like so construction has to start by July 2nd of 26. >> Is there a completion end date on that? >> Uh I I've read that it's it's uh it's like December of 27. I've read that which which seems like a a long time frame, but that's what I've read. >> You read because I haven't I haven't seen >> but but if you have the project started before >> July 2nd, it should be done well before December of of 27. >> Yeah, this will only take a month or two to build out. We can get into the economics of it if you want to uh go to um the next slide. [Music] >> There we go.
006>> Is that the slide you want? >> Yeah, we can we can start there if you want. We can This is a very short slide there. I'm gonna go and stand because I stand versus sit. Um, does anybody have any questions about this or just get a little overview of it? Okay, so this is this is right down the road here. Just go right down as a MOO. I think it's over there on the left hand side. Um, here you can see this I think from corner of the parking lot here. Uh, it's a relatively small array about 425 kW. And then this would produce around 500,000 annual kilowatt hours. And if I recall, this is on the next slide, but we'll get there in a moment. that's going to offset the majority of your
007consumption at the high school. I think we're only looking at the high school here, not so much um you know, this building here next to it. So, uh this is, you know, having just I drove back around the way in uh this is sloping this way a little bit. So, you got a little bit of a western slope. Uh you got plenty of space here. You don't really have to worry about shading. We can get away from all the trees. Uh you know, if we need to move it over this way, maybe cut that tree down, move it over, tuck it in there out of the way. That way, if you ever want to use that land for anything in the future, uh you can. Um I think somewhere down here, it looks like you
008have maybe um an area that you keep mowed for practice, either football or soccer or who knows what. So, uh but the actual dimensions can vary a little bit. Um but that's roughly where we were looking to put it. So, this is more of the financials. Um that's >> see it. >> I mean, I can see it. I don't know if any of you Oh, that's better. I mean, I generated all the numbers. be safe. Um, but it looks a little pixelated. So, you want to do it by like columns so we can blow that up. >> Sure. I don't know if that There we go. Perfect. And then up I'll pick up the top here. And then so over here on the left would be years. It's off the screen here a little bit.
009So year zero year one. There you go. You're I think we've been under 30 >> 35 35 years. um go back up to so you know an estimate for that size of the raise about 842,000. So that would be the capital cost for the project and then what you get back in incentives through the various um revenue streams you I mean Dave kind of outlined those be about 674,000 and then so obviously you get that back right the completion of the project or within 12 months since we're waiting on the federal government to cut you a check don't know how long that'll take uh but it is the federal government I used to work for the air force so I know how long how slow they can be hosties used to work for utility. So
010I know how these entities work. Um the Rex the renewable energy credits. So you can sell these for every thousand kilowatt hours of renewable generation that the asset makes or creates. It's equal to one wreck. That wreck is salailable on the open market. In PA, uh they're around $30 to $35 a wreck. So basically that's a revenue stream for you and it goes down over time because the array produces less over time. The array degrades by a half a percent per year on average. So that's why those numbers are going down. Um you know we can help manage those but that's what the wrecks are worth. So if you take the production and multiply it by your energy rate which is on the far right, you'll have the avoided cost for you. So here's what
011you're paying to the co-op. um had a few conversations uh with the co-op and the parent utility Alig Power I believe uh who um Northwestern Rural Electric Co-op buys the energy from and you have a pretty good all-in energy rate from co-op. 5 cents is really low. That's that's really good. Um as a result of having low cost of power, your payback is a little bit longer here. So you're looking in about four years. This is year zero. That's your initial cash outflate. Uh this is year 1, year two, year three, year four. So it's got about a four-year ROI. Um other schools or other CNI, commercial industrial, they're paying about double this. So if they had the same incentives, you know, this return would be a lot quicker. That rate is really low. So
012we took the five cents per kilowatt hour and we escalated at one and a half% yearon year going out here. Uh one and a half% is pretty conservative. Uh we like to take a conservative approach. We like to underpromise overd deliver. Um a lot of people use 2% escalators. We've seen as high as three and 4% escalators, but we like to try and keep that as far as possible. You think about it, go out two decades, 20 years from now to go from 5 cents to 6 and a half cents. Some would say you'll be paying way more off. Um, so again, it's, you know, it's a position on your energy rate. I'm sure you've all heard a lot about energy rates, probably what you're paying at the house and what have you. It's with
013what's been happening here in PJM. So the avoided cost is the energy rate here times the production of the array, however many kilowatt hours it produces approximately 500,000 on the previous slide per year. Um, so five 500,000 25 there's your 25 grand roughly per year. Uh, O andM expense. This should be like changing your tires on your car, changing your brakes, changing, you know, your motor oil, things like that. You do have to maintain the array. You have to go out and test it every year. Make sure that all the panels are still working. They're not cracked. Make sure the wires haven't either been chewed by, you know, some some furry woodland creature or, you know, perhaps lightning or something. Maybe fried a few of the wires. You have to make sure it's it's operating.
014You'll see every now and then you have this really large expense. Um there's another one down here off the screen. Uh this is to reinverter the array. So you have to put in new inverters approximately every 15 years. So that's why you have it pop up right here and then again right around year 30. Uh these arrays typically last 30 to 40 years 34 decade lifespan on that. Uh that's what all the M cost and the reimburtering costs are. uh the net annual benefit is the sum of all these sums them all up to take the average of that I think that's over on the right hand side uh is avoided cost of around $36,000 per per year it's over in this section there you go there there you go so the net annual benefit
015if you average forget the first two years because those are your capital outlay and your big check back from the government and utility and everybody else state of PA if you look at the steady state operations here and average you get about 36,000 a year avoided costs. So, you know, maybe another FTE right there. Uh cumulative benefit just rolls up every year. So, you can see what it gets down to at the end of um 35 years. It's around million dollars. Sorry. [Music] Over 35 years. And then going back up to this one. This is uh production. Yeah. Angle production. So, you know, another slide head as well about 500,000. It goes down again for the degradation of the panels over time. Uh, no moving parts here. This is a fixed axis. So, you don't
016you don't have panels that tilt or anything like that. They're just don't really move. Don't really have to do much. Occasionally, they'll get dusty and dirty. Then, it'll rain and get cleaned off. Really, the only thing you got to maybe worry about is, you know, mowing the lawn around it once or twice a summer. Usually when we put these in, uh, we, uh, we put in a slow growing seed so the weeds don't shoot up too quick. You don't have to worry about it. And there'll be a fence around it as well. Got to keep keep all the curious fingers away from the panels. Um, so we got some other bullet points over here. Um, you know, about a four year ROI. Uh, here's, you know, I kind of walked through all this. um you
017know gives you some metrics here. 1 million over 35 years. Um you know about 600,000 over the first 20 size it's about a 95% offset. Um you know if your usage goes up and down then that offset will vary a little bit. So if you increase your usage then you know the array is not going to be able to you know kind of come back because the array is fixed. If your usage goes down through the energy efficiency or or what have you, then the array can end up offsetting maybe 100% of your usage. U estimated costs, $2 a watt's a good bogey. Um the RFP will determine what that final number is. And then some of the incentives, um you know, if you look at the size two bucks, come up with that for
018the capital cost. So the IRA inflation reduction act that Dave was talking about here. A little bit of you know time frames on that. Now uh there's a 30% base plus a 10% energy community adder. So you get roughly 337 back there. Um PA grant 337 there again 40%. So 40 up here and 40 down there. That's why they're both the same. Uh and then the if you do end up pushing the energy back onto the grid. Let's say it's the middle of summertime and there's not a whole lot going on and the sun's shining and your the rays pushing out pretty good energy and you actually end up spinning the meter backwards and it goes out to the grid. Alligated power will actually buy that off into 7.2 cents. So that would be in
019excess of what would have been consumed by the high school. So this number is not factored into any of these economics because we're at about a 95% coverage. So there will be periods maybe a few hours throughout the summer where you probably are pushing energy back out to the grid. So you'll get a little bit of a check um for that energy. But because we're sized at approximately 95% of your usage on an annual basis, you'll be a net consumer, not a net exporter. Any questions, comments? >> Back to your second slide you had on there. Penrest owns this. When we had the initial talk, there was a lease option and I think one other one. >> Yeah. So, a lease option or a PPA. So, the solar for schools program for the state state
020of Pennsylvania is you know affording to the schools. Uh that does not apply for a lease option or a PPA. You have to the schools have to own it. They what they don't want is they don't want some big developer coming in from out of state and grabbing all $28 million and then they they have it all. They want it to stay at at the local community level in schools. >> So, and what Brad also touched on was, you know, the the the incentives come back to you. Um the the PA solar for school incentives, uh they've they've stated that that money is sitting there. So, as soon as the project's done, they'll cut you a check for that. So, that one will come back rather quickly. Uh the the uh the inflation reduction act
021money, that could take a little bit longer because it kind of is would run on like a tax cycle. So, depending on when the when the raised done, you know, that that that could take up to a year, probably less, but uh so so you have to pay for both of them and then you get reimbursed for that. That's how it would work. and and then our role as your assessor. Uh the way the state uh set this up is we're we're a qualified assessor with the state. So we helped you guys get to the point where you applied for the grant and then we will also run the RFP for you to to get developers to to bid on the grant, help you make decisions on what developer you want to go with. We
022will not be the developer installing the array. we're not allowed to as the assessor and that but we can we can still oversee the whole process and make sure it's done correctly for you. Uh but we're not permitted to to be the uh the developer that wins the RFP. So we're kind of sitting on your side of the table which is what our company does all the time anyway. >> That was a requirement from the PA program is whoever does the assessment which is what we did cannot be the ones who actually build the array. So we're actually kind of better off positioned to be your consultant through the whole thing. So the RFP process will determine who the developer is and we won't even bid on it. Next era, none of our none of
023our companies will bid on it at all. It would be other people. So maintenance wise, um, we're the column that had the on andm there. >> Yep. >> Does that include that that's including paying someone from one of these companies to do regular maintenance on it or is that our >> Yes. >> Okay. It is. >> Yeah. You're going to be >> So someone would be someone would be in charge of >> like is one of our maintenance guys going to have to watch and make sure that everything's working or find the problems? >> So good question. Um, one of the So, when we run the RFP, uh, we're we're going to also provide you some other options for the long-term O&M, the maintenance plan, and we're also going to include a solar D gas,
024solar DAS option, data acquisition system. And basically what that is, it's real-time telemetry into the portal. You'll be able to log into a website and you can see the production of the array at any point. uh you can set up al alerts and alarming and that way when something goes down you'll be email or call whatever you want. Uh a lot of time and I I get all those emails all the time for the ways that we take care of now. Uh a lot of times uh they'll selforrect usually it's a power blip on the grid. Um sometimes other things happen uh you know seen corners of the building burned down and the inverters were over there. So it just happens happened just from the industrial process that was occurring inside the building. Nothing to
025do with solar panels. Um so you know I'll call up the facilities guy and be like hey or gal and be like listen um the array is not working right now. Any reason why that might be oh yeah somebody ran into the telephone pole out here. That's why it's down. So uh but we'll be able to see it remotely and be able to you know set up alarming. You'll get notifications. Uh, we also model what it's supposed to be generating compared to what it actually is because we're getting the real-time data in. >> So, would there I guess since you guys aren't correctly installing them, would there be people for references that we could ask, you know, like >> we can do that for you? Like we can do like the what you was just
026talking about. >> We can come back in and and and be >> your your >> I'm saying before we invest the money though. Is there someone that we can can we see how this is working for someone else? >> Yeah. Yeah. We need to references on that. Okay. And and we would propose the solar the dash system uh data acquisition system in addition to the on plan. Okay. >> So the solar developer um they'll come in usually they do a really good job of putting the panels in uh you know putting all the steel on the ground. we will have an option there where we can help kind of consult through that and be at various stages along the construction process to make sure it's going properly according to how the RFP is written. They're
027following all the submittals. There's, you know, adhering to all the engineering requirements. In addition, you know, we'll also have some options on there for the onm plan if you will if you want and we can provide references as well. >> Okay. Yeah. And then another question I guess I had was the you guys were talking about slow growing grass or something in there, but how much space is between panels? Is there like lawn mower space? >> Typically you'll be a 2x1 factory. So you have two panels. Um so they're 4 foot by two foot. So you have two of them kind of end to end on the short side. So 8 foot by two foot and there'll be a big row of them going down and there'll be about an 8 to 12 foot separation
028between them >> between that whole set. Yeah. So you can get down there up to six foot easy. And typically what we like to do and you say we because next air has put in more renewables than anybody else on the planet. But whoever this developer is um when we run the RFP and we evaluate it. Uh what we like to see is that the bottom of the panel because they're at an angle is typically about two or three feet off the ground. That way mowers typically, you know, the wheels go through them and you don't have to worry about pinning. You don't want them all the way down the ground because a grass is going to get to them quicker. things are going to want to jump up on there like raccoons and possums
029and whatever else. So, if you get it up a little bit, it kind of helps. Also, snow load. When the snow slides off, you want it to fully fall off. You don't want it to form a big pile down there still touching the panel. >> Okay. Gotcha. >> I'm an idiot on this stuff. Um, we need sun from the salt. Yeah. And there's not much sun in this area. Have you accounted that into your >> Yes, we have solar irradiance data for a long time, six, seven decades. Uh so that annual production number right here, uh this is an average you'd expect to see, you know, over the life of the asset. There there's going to be some high years and there's going to be some low years. Um >> can we get a second
030opinion too besides your opinion? >> Yeah. >> On on the assessment of what you just did? >> Yeah. >> Like have another company come in and kind of go through and run the numbers? >> Yeah, sure. Everybody's using ENL, National Renewable Energies Laboratory out of Colorado. That's where all the solar radiance data for the world resides. And everybody, >> what's it called? >> ENL and National Renewable Energy Laboratories. >> So it tracks like the UV levels of your area and averages out. >> It they track and every solar modeling program in existence references the ENL data sets. >> Yeah. Two years ago, I don't know if anybody remembers. I think it was two years ago. I don't know if anybody remembers the um the wildfires up in Canada. >> So that obviously put a lot
031of particulate matter in the air. So we saw you know the solar radiance go down in a lot of our northern arrays. So you know that's just the eb and the flow. We're going to have some cloudy years. We're going to have some sunny years and just things that wildfires things of the like. Yeah. Um, typically as you go uh south and to the west, you pick up more solar radiance like Nevada, New Mexico, that's where we have the highest solar density. Um, we've got plot maps that show the solar radiance all over the US. And u you're right, I'm I'm right across the border here in Ohio. Uh, we don't get a whole heck of a lot of sun, but um that's the modeled uh production for that precise array that was shown on
032the screen. I mean it gets down to the longitudinal latitude longitudinal latitude. >> How long have you been in the industry? >> Um business um like next era or myself? >> Next era. >> Next. >> Um boy that's I think our first time we went public was back in like 1960 I think. >> Okay. >> Um >> Next Air is one of the largest energy companies in the world. They're the largest installer of solar and wind in the world. >> They own Florida Power and Light. They have a big utility presence. So, um, I mean, they're they're solid company. They have >> So, from the 60s, what would you say was the the the annual production or our monetary benefit back in the 60s compared to what we're making today? Has it gone up? Has
033it gone down? So >> financial benefit. >> Yeah. So back, you know, if you rewind solar quite a bit, they weren't as efficient as they were as they are now. >> So we've become a lot more efficient in making solar panels. That kind of gets back on the question he asked. You don't get a lot of sun here, right? So how do you, you know, how do you squeeze out kilowatt hours from a solar array, you know, given the technology? And we've gotten a lot better about it. Now we've got solar panels that actually will produce pretty well in the shade. So, a lot of times, like if you back up a couple decades, a solar panel really didn't put out energy until it hit a minimum voltage or a minimum amount of sunlight falling
034on it. Now, they're really good at heart sun or, you know, semi-shaded production. So, when we put up solar panels inside of um inside of small forests in order to be able to measure data coming off of gas pipelines and what have you. So, we've gotten a lot better at that and that's just due to competition, right? you know, everybody overseas is making solar panels. So, um, it benefits everybody when you have competition, but we've come strides. I used to work at a solar R&D lab. Um, so my job was to make solar panels more efficient. Back then, we had around eight or 9% on a solar panel. Now, we're pushing 13 to 14. And depending on, you know, some of the panels, uh, you can get them to be upwards of 18 or 19.
035That's it for like you know the latest and greatest cutting edge technology. Don't quite have the longevity though for 40 years. >> Uh how about where the materials are made? >> Yeah. So >> Americanmade, Chinese made all over the place. Um so uh there is a domestic content adder, a DC adder. If we were to source the majority of the arrays components here within the US, you can get an additional 10%. I think that's is it down here? >> Um, yeah. So, you got the 10% energy community. You can get another another 10% here if you go with a domestic content requirement. So, if we were to source the majority of the components within the US with the US made, you'll get another 10% back on the total project. Typically what we see is that
036even if you forego that and you buy them overseas, it's it's cheaper because the the cost of producing here in the US is more than that 10% will get you by buying them internationally. Um a lot of the racking we get um I say we solar developers in general uh you get a lot of aluminum coming out of Canada. Um you get some panels coming out of Taiwan, Japan, China, um Vietnam, um other countries and um the copper, you know, that runs all the wires and everything that usually comes from South America, Central America, but you were in R&D. Um but have you figured out how to use parking lots, >> put them above the parking lot? So, so we can The problem we do a lot of parking lot proposals. Um the problem with
037the parking lot proposals is you now have to build a canopy, a steel structure and you got to get, you know, basically you got to make a roof over the whole parking lot. >> Um now it doesn't have to be watertight, right? But the problem is um wind lift on that. It's not the weight of the panels pushing down. You've created a giant wing by putting the panels out there. And if you get a you know a strong wind, you got to make sure those don't get uplifted. Um, as a result, this $2 per watt, where was it? Here, turns into about 350 when you just add the structural steel. Um, that's come down a little bit. It used to be closer to four um when steel was a little bit pricier about a year
038ago, but um that's the reason why. So, if you roughly double this, your four years turns into eight years and that's usually what stops it. What happens if uh there's a natural disaster, lightning strikes, a tornado comes through? Does that come like Kristen, would that come like through our insurance cover that is that? So then my second question is does our insurance rate increase? >> We don't have that answer yet. I'm assuming we will have some type of insurance increase. >> Okay. We don't know if it's astronomical. >> No, typically what we've seen on that is it's usually single digit increase. Okay. >> Single digits. Um, >> yeah, >> it's like any if a tornado hits our building, we're gonna have insurance. >> We're gonna have an increase with any claim, right? Well, claim, right?
039>> A claim to claim. I mean, it's going to go off and buy the claim. >> Yeah. >> Parking lot idea would be phenomenal. The problem is with our parking lot, you have >> small cars, midsize cars, SUVs, buses. >> For buses, >> well, I mean, you've got so many different size vehicles coming through here. And I mean, I did look into that. I think I think Brian sent that around and it's really cool and I've seen it in other places. >> Yeah. >> But it's like how do you accommodate everything that goes through our parking lot? >> So do it everywhere. >> You make you can make it taller. They >> accommodate them, >> right? >> Arizona, New Mexico, >> but I don't know how much parking cost. >> You can accommodate for buses
040and semis. We looked at that. You just you got to take the steel higher which adds more cost. So typically this the 350 per or was it right there is about a 10 foot ceiling. So we've had you know businesses who have semis come in and out say well we want to get like a 15 foot high. >> Well 50 or whatever. >> Yeah. >> Um yeah. >> So what's going on in our capital with what seems to be an attack on wind? What are you looking at in the future of possible attacks against solar with the current administration? >> Yeah, so that's happened. The one big beautiful bill. Um, and you basically I think Dave alluded to the timeline. You need to start construction in order to July of next year in order to
041be able to >> they're stripping all those incentives. They really are. And they're >> they're not taking them away like that. They're saying, you know, you have like almost a year to kind of get a project started before, but they they're they're certainly, you say wind, it's it's it's renewables. They're they're kind of >> they're they're they're kind of I don't want to say under attack, but certainly they're they're they're getting hit right now for sure. Yeah. >> The incentives are getting clawed back. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Well, solar is definitely a more efficient way, correct? Well, it I mean you get closer to the lake. I haven't done a study up here. Brad has put wind mills in, but like I'm from the Pittsburgh area and there's there's no there's no wind bills
042down here. It just doesn't work at all in the Pittsburgh area. As you get closer to the lake, you might have a little bit more success, but still, >> but with the lifespan and the cost of them, I mean, >> there's a lot of restrictions around that, too. Brad's talking about that. >> Well, but I mean, we're not interested. >> You have to worry about FAA airplanes. um you know where all the airports at. Uh the fall hazards is if it falls, it's got to be free and clear from anything around it. It's got to fall on the property. Um geotechnic as far as the foundation, it's much much more detailed than solar. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. Um >> a lot of concrete. >> Just the insurance question was was another good one. Just
043you know, you commented about the building, right? Um you know, it's $850,000 solar. someone had an $850,000 yacht parked back there where I had the picture, a tornado hit it and destroyed it, it'd be an insurance claim. So, >> can you just talk about how how many solars have you seen in school districts and where is the closest one in Pennsylvania um that we could, you know, potentially reach out to, talk with? >> Yeah, I don't >> I don't know what the closest one is, but we could get you in touch with something. Because are there any down in the Pittsburgh area? >> Yeah. >> Okay. I would be interested. I think someone asked a question about that about >> Yeah. My my wife's on the R8 board. She could have somebody assess this >>
044get more information. >> Yeah. Cuz I think there's a couple right across the line, too. >> In 400 ft, turn right. >> He already 400 ft. We got to turn right. >> Yeah, that's where it's at. Yeah, I think there's a lot to think about within just sitting here, you know, like I didn't think I had any questions starting out, but then it, you know, it's a lot. I mean, it's educational. That's how we learn. >> So, I mean, try not to get wrapped around the solar axle. Uh, I mean, it is a business decision as well. >> Um, spin this a few different ways. You're going to invest this and here's your return. There's an ROI, right? So there's a financial um incentive here. And you know, some people may look at four years
045and say no. Uh if you've been tracking solar for any amount of time, four years is pretty good. Uh I remember back when it was 24 years for things like just a pencil and then it's just gotten, you know, better over the years. Now you've got this the PA grant that really I really did it right there because Dave and I looked at you know dozens of these around here uh before the grant came into existence and this was floating around seven years something like that. Um, and you know, then yes, so you're at that like 7 to 10 year, it's still kind of h I could probably use my money better elsewhere, but then when the PA grant came in, you know, that shortens up to four years. Uh, people who are paying a
046little bit more energy on their energy rate, you know, it's three years. Uh, maybe here you got a 40% PA grant. That's where you fell into. We had a few schools that fell into the 50%. It's actually a one-year ROI for them. So, you know, with >> with all the grants that are that are available through the Solar for Schools grant and the the inflation reduction act, there's never been a better time for a school to install solar. It just we've never gotten the kind of incentives that are available to you now. Whether whether it's something that works for you or not, that's for you to decide. But there's never ever been a better time for a school to put solar if if you applied. You got the grant from from the state of Pennsylvania
047on top of that, >> right? There's, you know, we don't we don't necessarily need to get wrapped around the solar axle. I mean, you're buying a widget for X. It's has a return of that. There's a financial decision that needs to be made. Um, you know, we're the largest producer of renewables. I told you I worked in a solar R&D lab. also used to buy 8 million tons of coal right out from underneath here when I worked at the utility for about four years because we were 95% coal fired. So, I'm not going to sit here and push shoulder, you know, you want to get a grade. If not, here's the financials. Um, but you know, all sources of generation have a fit. Does this fit your financial metrics? >> So, >> and then I
048think I sent you the um the agreement, our agreement, everything. >> Yes, I was going to get to that. Could you touch on the fees associated with entering into the RFP if they would decide to do that? There is a motion on the um agenda tonight. So could you guys kind of just touch on the cash outlay um what's needed and and when um in each step of the process? >> Yeah. Um so in that proposal I think there's uh four different phases. There they are. So um it's outlined 5% of the total EPC. So 5% of that 850,000 or 40 grand 40k. It's the greater of the two. So >> it's actually on the um >> that's bad. >> It's on the scope of work is where the the >> there is. Yep. And
049then if you scroll down a little bit more. All right. So the first step we've already done. Um that's kind of the initial you know discussions we've had. Educate again. We want to look at it. Let's see what it looks like. The solar site feasibility assessment. We've done that as well. So those two are done. Uh so the next um step here is really NTP to proceed. Uh do you want to move forward or not with the RFP process? So that's spelled here in the third section. Uh here's the 5% or the 40k and then here's how the cost would be allocated at various milestones. >> So >> is the 40 is the 40k included in the expenses that you put for the solar? >> No. No, that's >> And the reason the reason being
050is because when we do the RFP process, typically we can squeak out more than that than the 40k on the savings. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, and that scales with the array. So, this is a 400, you know, 4 425 KW array. You know, if you had like a 4,000 KW array, the savings would be a lot more than more than that. So when you're looking at the various um developers out there uh we you know for example we did one um array up in New Hampshire and you know the the array was is around $4 million. The next best bid was $1.7 million more and the RFP had they not done that who knows if they would have landed on that on that smaller figure or not. If they would have picked any of
051the other four people, um it could have cost them double. >> So, how long is the procurement take? Uh we know that July 2 is a deadline. Yeah. >> Um how far back from that do you need the >> soon? >> Yeah. So, can you be more specific? uh the I Jenny would would have the specifics around it, but the RFP process, there's going to be some waiting periods like um we're going to have you're going to have to advertise um three times in a local publication. So, there's there's like a couple time frames where you're just waiting for a month or a month and a half to kind of get to that process. So, um I I I think that I I I don't have the the exact time frame, but I think in
052order to take advantage of having it done started by July, I think that the the RFP has to be this piece of it has to be in place in the next month, maybe two outside of that because you have interconnection stuff and and applications that have to be filled out as well. I I think it's kind of getting to the point where it's getting pretty close to the to the window where you could have a you know >> that was that answer. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean I I don't I didn't know soon. >> I don't know the exact date but but I mean I just think that with interconnection with you know the the the RFP process would have a wait period. I mean Jenny's talked about that a couple times where it's it
053could >> Yeah. Once you issue the RFP it needs to stay open for so long. You you may have some guidance. It's probably the similar. It's the same RFP process we currently follow. You have to advertise in the local newspaper at least once a week for three weeks. Then you have to have, you know, your question and answer. You have to have your bid session. >> The developers might want to come out and walk the site and look at it in probably six weeks. >> Yeah. >> Process for your complete RFP start to finish. >> Right. >> All right. But I'm talking about the entire step three, the procurement. So like how far you're saying like if we want to break ground by July 2nd, we need this collective board decision within the next month
054or two. >> Yeah. Did I hear you right? I would say yes. >> That's about right. Yeah. Cuz then you know we're looking at end of the year when we you actually contract and then you're looking at lead time on transformers, panels, etc., etc. Have them all show up right when the ground thaws and then we start going into the ground. And that'll probably be right around April. Um, so that'll start before July 2nd and it'll probably be done there about right around Juneish. So you've got a little bit of you got like a month or two >> road on July. >> Yeah. It doesn't have to be completely finished. It has to be started. So ground work, you got, you know, mobilization, you have containers out there, dumpsters, etc., etc. Uh, you start, you
055know, doing some bore holes, etc., etc. Then you're you meet your requirement. Okay. Yeah. That's going to be my question. What What does it mean to start the project? Yeah. >> Any any other questions? What about um what about STEM? My wife ran a STEM program back in school. So, I mean, you can or the science teacher or whoever. Um but you know, you can create a whole little mini curriculum or see some smiles out there. um you know about educating you know the students and what have you on renewable renewable energy. So now you're not going to go out there and touch them. Um but you got a fence around it, but you can go up next to the fence and you can point out inverters and wires. You see the wires and everything
056and um you can kind of make a make a whole slide deck out of it and kind of run the kids through it. And on the the DAS, the data acquisition system, you can log into the website, you can look and see, well, here's the array and then pull it up on the computer and here's what it's producing right now. And then, yeah, you can that'll be in the morning. And then in the afternoon, if it gets cloudy or rainy, you can look on the solar dash there on the website and you see it go down and show them various time frames and what have you. And kind of build up a little curriculum about it. Something short and sweet. You just add it too. So, usually the STEM whoever's in charge of the STEM
057club does that. If not, science teacher. >> So, we've we've taken up a lot of time. Um, you know, we thought we'd be short, but it's been a lot a lot of time. So, >> sorry. >> Um, >> a lot of questions. >> Yeah. Which is good. >> Any other questions? And and last thing I'll say is the benefit of this will be, you know, it's a four-year payoff, but for 35 years, long after any of us are sitting in this room, the school district will still be benefiting from it. So, it's it's it'll be an asset that really kind of uh pays off for the district if you guys decide to move forward with it. >> Yeah. End of 40 years, typically panels, take them off and you can put panels in the same
058racket. So the steel that's going in the ground and the skeletal support structure that holds the panels, that'll all still be there. Usually you end up putting in um new inverters, new panels, maybe rewiring. Depends on how much more efficient those panels are. If they produce a lot more, you probably need thicker wire to handle the amps. So it's a lower cost to redo it for >> Can we get this presentation? >> I can. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate Thank you for being here. >> You okay? >> Oh, yeah. You don't need to know. We appreciate you coming on. >> Safe travel ready to share. >> Okay. So, >> okay. I'd like to hear your input when you're ready. >> All right. Next up, Debbie Miller of the P AA. >> Where
059to stand behind? >> Well, good evening everyone. Um, I wanted to take this opportunity to speak on behalf of the teachers and the educational specialists of Penrest. As our summer days are narrowing down, I hope that all students, board members, administration, and teachers have had an opportunity to recharge, relax, and reboot for the new school year. I know many of our teachers have had a chance to see new places, learn new skills through workshops or graduate classes, to work an extra job, spend time with family and friends, or even address health needs. All of these activities will directly impact the students who will be under their direction in a few short weeks. Our teachers will be able to describe landmarks or cultures from firsthand experiences. They will be able to realize and re-emphasize the importance
060of family and have deepened compassion for the families represented in their classrooms. They will have real world real world that's hard to say work experiences to inform their instruction for the future workforce in front of them in our schools. They will be coming with enthusiasm to implement new programs and instructional best practices that they took the initiative to pursue. I have always been taken aback when someone says that teachers have the summer off. I guess if by off they mean time to learn, see new things, add to their experiences, and refill their tank so that they can pour out into the lives of our students in Penrest. Well, I guess that's fine. All last year, I asked our board members and administrators to work and even fight for smaller class sizes. I am hoping you
061are still looking at our classrooms, especially our elementary classrooms with a laser focus to ensure that we are making those numbers better than some were last year. I hope you are insisting that careful planning through review by the previous year's teachers to ensure success. As a 35-year seventh grade teacher, the people who knew if our class rosters were appropriate were the sixth grade teachers. So, I'm asking your leadership to make sure that we have the proper class sizes and clientele as determined by collaboration with the teachers and the administrators. As I mentioned last year, if there are problems with class size or class rosters, it's never too late to try. Even if we need to bring in more support, our students are worth it. All I'm asking is one more close look with the knowledgeable
062eyes of the teachers and the administrators. If this is done, it will enable all of those new assets gained through the summer, the learning, the real world experiences, the refreshing, the refilling of the heart, and it will be poured into this district's best penrest future, our students. I know our teachers are looking forward to an awesome school year, and the students are counting on us to deliver it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Debbie. I've got a number of updates here tonight. Um so you have to bear with me. Um first is the we're prepping here. Opening day prep is uh fast approaching. Um and uh we've been looking daily at busing. Um that's always a a a challenge each and every year. It's proving to be a challenge this year, but we're we're gaining on
063it. We're hoping to have that uh released uh on the 20th to our families to see the um routing. So, um and it's like I said, we're doing good. The bus companies um there's new buses um coming to um some both companies, so they've done a good job of updating. Um we're I think we're in a good place with busing. Uh but those first few weeks are always a challenge as as to get things sorted out. So um schedules um are are just about done. The master schedules um so we've been working hard on those. Open house this year for all three elementary schools will be on September 3rd, 2025. Um we're going to we're going to conquer and I'm going to be at Cambridge that night. I think uh Patty you're going to be
064in uh Seager Town Maplewood and then D will be at Seager Town. So we're kind of trying to do it for graduation too the same school. So that's where we'll be that night. Um and so just to let everyone know. Um right now our kindergarten numbers um at Maplewood Elementary School we're sitting at 47 students. at at Cambridge Springs Elementary School, we're sitting at 44 students and at Seaggertown Elementary School, we're sitting at 56 students. Um to this point, we as we had talked to the board last year, we have not we have not been um approving um kindergarten principal to principal transfers. They have to go through us first. We have a few that have requested. We have not allowed that. And part of the reason why is that Seagertown um currently is sitting
065uh with three teachers. And so those the highest according to guidelines from the board would be 60. So we're four students um short of that at where the other schools we also have three. So um so we're trying to keep kids where where they're where they live um according to the boundaries. And so um we we've gotten some calls. Not everyone's happy about that. Um but uh I think we're sticking to it. We look at daily I was in Aaron's office today um discussing it discussing each situation. We have grandfathered a few kiddos in whose brother and sister already go here. We didn't want to separate the families. We thought that that was fair. So we we truly are looking at that and those numbers are slowly on the rise and I would say here
066next couple weeks we always get a few um um students in usually. Um sometimes you get students that leave, but um and so to Debbie's point, we've been looking at those numbers um every day. Patty and I look at them. It's how we start our morning. We look at them every morning. We pull it up on the screen. We look at and seeing where where we're at and how we can best to do that. And and it's not easy because we're also balancing um the budgetary reality um of keeping the schools open. And so that's a that's a tough balance. Um but that's we are doing it. So, um, so I I appreciate your comments. Um, know that we are looking. Know that there's not always easy answers when we look. So, um, >> Sean,
067is this the first year we've eliminated the principle of the principal? This is the first year we're drawing the line and saying, >> I believe so. I wasn't here, but I believe that's accurate. Yes. >> Mr. Ford, may I interrupt? >> Absolutely. Debbie, >> you mentioned the elementary open house on Nove or November. Oh, >> September 3rd. >> High school. >> Same. Sorry. >> Same night. I'm sorry. Okay. Yes. High school. Same night. >> Sorry. My fault. >> Um, safety and security updates. Naturally, what the the someone said to me, are you are you worried about talking about the cell phone policy tonight? And I said, no, not really. I said, what I'm worried about is busing and safety and security, and that's what's starting to keep me up every night right now. So, um,
068we've recently been doing a lot of training. Our our school police officers recently went to what's called a true north, um, training and it was and all the school police officer forces in the Erie County, Crawford County were part of this training. Now, we could only bring two representatives from each district, but came back both from our officers and all of Erie County. It was some of the best training they've ever had. It was really realistic. Um, it was eye opening. Even talking to Rob, Rob's had a lot of years of experience as a police officer and he said that was that was some really good training. Um, to the point of coming back with uh, you know, uh, Welch on on the head. I mean, they really got after it and really and it
069just a great time to do it because it gets it gets them into that mode right off the get-go. So, we have re reunification county reunification training um next week. Um so, I'm looking forward to that. And then following that, um Rob and I are going to sit down and and develop a master plan to start looking at reunification training here in the district at all the schools. Um we are going to be doing um um the the um checking the doors more this year. We're going to do spot checks and they'll have to go through the detectors and we're going to do that um both I'm going to say randomly and consistently if that makes sense. So we're going to we're not going to announce it. We're not going to tell kids, but we're
070going to randomly and we might we'll pick out different grade levels, different students, different times, and so they're not going to know. And so we're going to do that. Um and and so I Rob and I have talked about that and and that's one a goal that I have. Um I would love to see us get to a point of even having it a lot more. We're just trying to figure out with the staffing that how how to do that, but we're going to definitely implement that this year. Um, we're currently updating the entry systems at each of the buildings with a visitor aware system. And so, some of this stuff you've heard, you've approved of. Um, I'll give kudos to Richard and Mark. They've been, their teams have been working together to retrofit on
071those entryways. Um, the system is will be similar. You have to come in. you'll have to um use your um the cards to um you know your your ID to get checked in there before we'll let you in. Um so that's in place. Um give a shout out. Uh we we are Aaron um started this process. We've been on this a long time, but we have rerouted Maplewood Elementary School um to try to keep the um traffic off of that off of that road. And that's been a from what I understand an ongoing um that we rerouted. We we and Phil has taken the lead on that and uh with Aaron's help and and they they were out there in in doing that and they worked with uh the pre the prek counts program. They've
072adjusted that. So, um I'm not going to say that they were completely happy, but we just got I'm concerned out there. We got to get the traffic off the road out there. And so, however that looks and we'll evaluate it early and often here to see, but that's a that's that's something that we've been working on. Um naturally, we have our drills. Um we won't announce those drills. We'll do both fire drills, we'll do um lockdown drills um um all throughout the year. Um, so we'll be having those, too. So, um, you know, I'd like to say we're we're at a good place, safety, security. I don't ever think we're at a place that we can rest, though. We have to constantly keep pushing the envelope to make that um, a reality. Um, so I
073will say this to as the public. Um, if you hear something, you see something, say something, let us know. Um, we can never have too many eyes and have situational awareness both in our buildings, outside of our buildings. Uh, anything, please bring it to our attention. Call the building, call the principal. Um, it's never it's it's it's never enough. And so, I would I would just appeal to um our communities um to do that. Uh, third thing I have is the basketball uh gymnasium update. This is new. Um we've been told that the shot clock is going to be implemented in um um 2028 29. So it' be 3 years which will cause u a significant expense to all schools including us. Um, and so we we'll have to eventually put up the actual shot
074clock in the gymnasiums either on a wall or up above on the uh on the basketball hoops and then we'll have to have the ability at the scoring table to keep track of that. So the colleges have had that it's been pushed for a long time. There was a first reading. It has passed at PIAA. Our reps at PIAAA have come back and said it's it's it's it's coming. instead of to start preparing. Um we have Kristen and I had talked we would prefer to spread that it we're estimating Kristen about a $15,000 expense for all three schools on this. Um and so we're going to we're going to tackle that a little bit each year. Um because you we have to do some retrofitting to our current our current systems are going to work.
075So that's a positive, but we're going to have to um do some retrofitting to make that work. Um and so we are bringing people in to look at that right now to see what that means and what that looks like. And so any anything else on that? >> Yeah, we're working on um upgrading all the systems to wireless. So if with doing that wireless component, we can add um this extra component to get us to the shock claw um system. Um and those are only about 1,500 per school. So if we can work on trans transferring those now and then um you know once we know more from PIAA then we can go ahead and move forward with all those other schools. Um but we at least have to upgrade our controller systems um for
076the 1500 um to make them work currently with the wireless. So that's the next phase of this um just so you're aware. >> Is it 1500 or 15,000? >> 1,500 currently per scoreboard. Um, and then it's 15,000 total for the shot clock. So, >> thank you. >> That's that's the I mean, we have a price that's the estimate we're getting back. So, how much is the EIA sending us funding? >> Zero. >> Not a not a dime. >> Yeah. Not a dime. It probably >> charge us more. >> We um it was interesting. one of our local superintendents, I won't name his name, is now on the PIAA committee, which is really a positive because he represents rural schools and he's from a rural school in RIU and and he and as he went down
077to, you know, he went down to his first meeting, he was shocked to see the decision making coming out of the Philly Pittsburgh region. So there there's a there's a core group of them that are trying to lobby if you will and one of the things they asked for was a three-year on this so to give schools time and and and I appreciate that because we've I've dealt with the IAA when they've implemented one year and you have to purchase it the next year. So um so anyway, I do appreciate uh where we're at there. Uh the last thing I have is um Kristen and I have been researching um I've heard a presentation on this. Kristen's heard a presentation on this. This is called I think I brought this up previously um about utilizing
078a grant service. All right. And it's called Total Grant Services is the is the name of the organization. They're they're in two states right now. Let me just bring up my um so they're in two states. They're in Georgia and Pennsylvania right now. In Pennsylvania, it's all people working on that have been educators. And so, um so I went to it. I thought there was some possibilities. This was probably back in the spring. I told Kristen about it. We requested, the superintendents requested to have a meeting for our business managers because they're the ones um that we we like to hear when it talks of numbers. So, um I'll let I'll let her share here in a second. So, um but one of the things is are we leaving money on the table? All right.
079Is is it is it would it be beneficial to pay a service to go out and research monies that you know we have our we have our title which is a grant-based. We've we've gone out to the solar, right? We've done We've done good. How much money? How many grants, Kristen? >> We've gotten the PCC grants. We've gotten the facility. We've gotten the solar. It's over 500 $5 million gotten just in the past year in grant funds, >> right? So, we we feel like we're do we're good, but are is there other monies out there? Because we're here and and and so um Kristen went to went to that and and I we both kind of like that. We wanted to It's not on the It's not on for a vote tonight. This is our
080first time of really getting into it. Um Kristen, do you want to share a little bit about what you heard at the webinar? >> So, with this company, um like Mr. Ford said, they're all educators. Um and they have started their own company, kind of like a small familyrun business. Um and they will write the grant for you. Um and they'll submit all the reports at the end. So, they see it from start to finish. Um they will research. This is their job. So they're constantly looking for grant opportunities that might fit our district. Um so they will go ahead and write that and if it's received they do all all the grant work. So we don't even have to worry about writing it. We review it and um officially sign off on it and
081if we do receive the funds um from the financial side all I have to do is give them the reporting for that and they will submit all the the reports. Um there is a cost associated with the fee. Um it's currently like 12 to 2,000 a monthish. We don't really know yet until um the IU would kind of know how many uh districts are on board and then it's kind of tiered based on how many you have. Um so it's it's a new service that they're offering. Um it would save time. Um we have a lot of people here within Central that apply for the grants. Um Patty spends a lot of time, I spend a lot of time, secretaries spend a lot of time. So, and as more grants are becoming available, um you
082know, you've known we've gotten several grants that we haven't gotten in the past, just in this past year, um that we've gone out and researched and and looked. Um there's other ones that come anytime we see them through our organizations. You know, we we looked into them. Um so, it's a service that they're providing um that would save time on everyone within Central. >> Is there a car? there was a >> they're guaranteeing that they're going to get more grant money than we pay them every year. So, an additional grants. If not, then there's a one-year minimum agreement with them. I think a two-year minimum two-year minimum >> that we have to sign on. Um, but they handle all the reporting. Um, you guys don't know how tedious PCCD is. Um, >> unless you've done
083it. Um, we spend countless hours on just PCCD grants. um and the new system that they have within egrants and it it's a lot of reporting. It's a lot of time writing grants that you know we sit there and spend time writing >> bigger and as much as that also they have a lobbyist >> that is working at the state level. Um and so what's what's this was explained to us in a meeting on Friday at the IU. All of the P groupoups, your PSBAs now, even the PASSA, which is our organization, even the IUs itself are all have lobbyists now, which is which is fascinating. And so this group also, so what I'm hoping is that we we we know the basic grants that we get pretty much yearly, and we're managing that fine.
084where where we'd like to expand. I we've talked to and back to reference checking. We've talked to through finding like for instance in in projects, any kind of project that needs to be done, they're going out and researching. So they'll have a sit down with us, what's important to us, what are you currently working on, where are we at, and then they'll go look for those grants that aren't aren't the non-traditional ones that we are. We know basically the PA grants that are coming out. Um, and then I look and I try to find them, but these folks are that's going to be their job for us. So, um, and it is a guarantee. I haven't seen a contract. Um, I I have Jordan check that contract to make sure that that's in there. Um,
085because I wouldn't want to sign it. We haven't gone that far. This is our initial discussion with the board um to see if there was if there was interest or of us moving forward in the process to look at that. The IU has asked us to give them an initial um I think that I think it's a minimum of four districts that they're looking for because they're they're doing um pricing based upon the number of districts. So what we're trying to do at the IU level is is pull our resources um to get better um costs and services down. So we're working pretty hard up there, both Kristen's group and my group. So that's that's where we're at. I think any uh anything to help us go out and get more money coming in with
086districts worth it. I mean, you said 12 1,200 to 2,000 >> depending on how many >> That's the numbers they gave us. So, if one district goes with it, it might be $2,000 a month. Um it multiples it. >> Yeah. What they what they told us on Friday, they they tier it based upon your student population, and we would all be we would be in the lowest tier. Um I think the only districts in in IU5 there probably would be a couple like a Dow or even even Crop Central would be in the lowest one. So and then they'll come up with a cost based upon the number of districts. >> Seems like more grant opportunities are surfacing. Um and this would still be cheaper than hiring a staff member to put them on the
087you know grant writing. >> Um just an option for users and benefits. Correct. >> So this is a cost savings to go this route. >> We we know moving forward as as as things get tougher and tighter we need to be looking and being creative in our approach and even even every that's why I told Kristen every position that retires we really need to ask the question can we can we do without that position and unfortunately that's how her and I need to be asking that question. And so we are looking for opportunities like this that we can spend less money to do a more more task. So that's that's kind of where we're both long both short-term and longterm. So >> do they research any and all types of grants? >> That's what they
088told us. Yes. >> Big and little >> what they tell us. >> Athletic grants, right? >> I mean I talked we talked to the one district they got a for they they needed a roof on their elementary school. They went out and found a grant for that roof project itself. Um, >> I'm think like, you know, curriculum materials, >> athletic grant for the $24,000 a year. >> What's that? >> It's a great program. >> We have a $500,000 deficit. >> We're going to make it $500,000, but add 25,000 to that deficit. >> I would say as long as they can guarantee that, we'll get more than that. Mhm. >> Um, and it's it's kind of the adage sometimes it takes money to make money and you got to spend money to make money. And so
089I agree with you. If they can't guarantee it, I'm not interested. But if they can guarantee that and put that in writing for us, then I would have an interest in >> Well, and you and I know you leave money on the table because there's always so much you guys can do. There's only so many hours in a day and there are grants out there. They may be small, but like Randy said, if it helps the athletics, that's a big one. We I mean, that's a major expense for the district. Athletics. >> Michelle Brook's office emails me once, twice a month, and there's probably five or six grand opportunities. >> Always. Yeah. >> But we'd have to have the personnel to go after all that. >> We We apply for think of those. >> I'm
090sure we do. And I send them on and >> we only we only bring the ones that we win. My point was to bring to light Tim's point is there's a lot of opportunities and I'd imagine a service like this we would see far more opportunities um than what we used to even for things that we wouldn't think about to be covered by a grant. >> Great. >> Yeah. Because you know they they not only look at that and I've only got into the grant writing piece of it. I haven't gotten into the total um everything we get from it, but they're also looking for, you know, utility rates, gas rates. They're looking at they they do a lot more than just do grant writing. And so, um I it we like I said, it
091captured our attention. Um >> well, I think if we get enough school, you know, to go and the districts, the more districts that are involved, the better price it's going to be. They're all talking to their boards like I am. And then we'll come back and next month and we'll discuss it more and then I'll let you know where we go. >> I think that's enough for me tonight. Um I will turn it over to the department reports and we'll start with Mrs. Phely. Mr. Lily with education. >> I just want to share a little bit of information that's not necessarily action items tonight but did include it for my report. wanted to mention that our civics knowledge tests, we had 95% of our students pass that. 22 of those or 11% scored 100%. So,
092we'll be recognizing them with certificates that um Mr. Johnson will sign as well as myself and they'll be recognized at the beginning of the year with those. So, I thought that was um some pretty good data. >> That's good news. >> That is very good news. uh food distribution. You know, we talked about the sun meals that we were providing this summer, all summer, every Wednesday, five breakfast, five lunch per student that signed up. It doesn't have to be student, anybody age 0 to 18. As a district, we serve 19,67 breakfast, 19,67 lunches, and 38,134 milks. It's a fantastic program for our community. Um, our school offices did a great job of sorting milks, getting packages out, getting families to come in and do the pickup. So, I just wanted to share that out with
093you. It was it was a definitely a a very good community service for our whole district. Um, and that was free of charge. Cost us nothing other than the time to pack milks. >> Um, our math academy, you approved this a while ago. We had math academy coming in which is free professional development from Carnegie learning um for math teachers centered around math. You'll see some of the evidence around the room. It started last week um three days last week, two days this week. We have 15 district teachers participating and then five teachers from surrounding districts that are also participating in that. It's been a very good professional development activity. We've got a lot of positive feedback from our teachers that are participating. So I did want to showcase that because it was free. was
094grant funded, cost us nothing. Um, and teachers are getting some good professional development out of that. So, it's been a good endeavor. >> Um, lastly, as for an information point, I just want to let you all know that our title 2A and 4A grant funds were cancelled um July 2nd, I believe, is why 29th. >> June 29th. >> July 29th, they were cancelled. No, they were I'm ahead of myself. That's the other funding that they're going to hear about. >> Um, but we are getting our 2A and 4A funds back. So, our 2A funds fund our professional development. Our 4A funds help with all of our um PBIS, our um uh all of the assessments that we do. It helps cut the costs on dual enrollment and um our AP tests for students. as we
095cover some of those costs and that's the funding source for all those. So that we will be getting those funds um re-released to us and I will fill out those grants as soon as they're available in the system. Um as far as action items, we have our handbooks on for approval. Um we're minor changes in there. Probably the biggest change that we've already alluded to is the cell phone policy in there. Um teacher handbook is also in there for approval and again minor changes in there. just some updates to language and um personal person personnel changes. Um I will say we have some athletic travel typical travel for volleyball and um cross country. the resource list. I'm not sure if you've had a chance to look at that or not, but again, I want to
096point out how much of our community we're bringing into our schools at all of our all of our buildings are trying to do a really good job of bringing our local um resources and people into our buildings to talk with our students and and specifically Cambridge High School's family consumer science. She's really reaching out and bringing in a variety of speakers to come in from her community or from our surrounding community. You know, they're talking about how to buy a new or used car, what to look for when you're doing that process, how to find a doctor and make appointments, you know, what is a credit union, how do you set up an account, how do you change a tire, how do you check your tire pressure, what should you be looking for, um routine
097automobile care, what to look for when you're apartment hunting, cake decorating, um restaurant management, knife skills and food safety, the difference between a credit union and a commercial bank, uh running your own culinary business, and how to set up a utility service, bill statements, and conserving energy with kitchen equipment. I I think that speaks very volumes about our community involvement. A that we can find that that many members in our community that are willing to come in and talk with their students and b that we're looking at some of those real life skills and strategies that our students need when they enter that that real word world um after graduation. So, they're doing a very nice job with that. Those are all on for um approval tonight as well as some book resources that are
098supporting our new units of study. They're in they're not classroom sets of books. They're individual books that are used um to go along with the lessons. We have um JA or Junior Achievement is really launching new um lessons as well. Those were all linked on here. Most of their lessons are focused on financial literacy which is a component that we're required to provide starting next year. So they're kind of giving us a launch into that. We'll be writing that curriculum. Mrs. Henry and I will be working with teachers to write the curriculum K12 for financial literacy that the state's requiring of us to have in place for next year. And this will really help us go down that path. And they're coming in again free of charge to our buildings to provide these lessons for
099students. So that's an excite it's an exciting time for us to to really have these community resources to help us out. We have dual enrollment agreements which are just typical agreements with Pitusville. Um we have again a lot of annual agreements this time of year with all the agencies that we have that may service students. Sometimes we have students in their agency and sometimes we don't. But every year they ask us to sign those agreements in the event that there's a student that is sent to that institution or facility. We already have a working agreement with them to serve as students. Um know if Mr. Lily wants to talk about the Sentinel One that has to do with our cyber security. >> Yeah, Sentinel One is it's no it's nothing new. It's what we've been
100using. Sentinel one only. This year we're actually partnering with the IU and getting some discounts because of the volume and we're getting our actually our third year. You know, we had a three-year agreement with Sentinel One. This is year three. So, we're getting actually getting some discounts by partnering with them. And additionally, we're actually getting 247 monitoring and not just monitoring mitigation with that, too. So, if there's anything happens at midnight, we don't have to wait till 8 a.m. to be notified of it. It'll actually be taken care of by them 24/7. So, it's full-time monitoring. We have a little more better vision from our dashboard into it. And also included with that was our ability to put our antivirus on our servers where we're using a second other different product for that. So we're
101able to save some money by not having to purchase that second um antivirus for the servers. So it's all included in the second one. The big difference is we're going through the IU5 to purchase it and that's probably where we'll get it through moving forward after this year with future agreements. I think everything else under my section are just annual agreements that we do every year just so any questions facilities. Richard, um I I'll try to keep mine brief, but I just wanted to give everybody an update on uh where we are with the project over at Cambridge Springs. Uh we remain on schedule and things are progressing nicely. Um, having the ability to get into the gym in the second floor during the last month of the school made made uh possible by the
102cooperation from our attendance area over there made made the timeline move a lot quicker for us. So, uh, as of today, the floor tile is 95% completed. Uh, we're finishing up uh, scrubbing, waxing hallways. Uh, we we have the office area turned back over to us at the end of last week and we're working on getting those folks settled back in. Uh they're awaiting delivery at the new uh desks and furniture in the office there that we'll get set up later this week. Um most of our classrooms are put back. They just need to be cleaned and set up. Uh we're going to be doing final cleaning and we're going to have help from the other attendance areas uh Monday, Tuesday next week to be able to do classroom setup, um technology setup, final cleaning.
103Um we have some painting that's ongoing. Uh we will be doing some hallway painting throughout the year, but we're trying to get as much of the classroom stuff as we can right now. Um striping of the parking lots going on today and tomorrow. Um and then the the HVAC systems are all up and running. We're just getting the uh building control system programmed. Um lighting is all done and then the gym is almost cleared out. Once that's done, we'll be able to pull up the protective uh floor covering and uh get the floor finish all uh ready to go in there. So, um like I said, we had amazing cooperation with the building um to be able to get things rolling and um you know, I know I'm new to the district, but from my
104um feedback from everybody, it's the smoothest um summer project we've had in a number of years. So, um we appreciate everyone's help and cooperation. It's been been a good summer so far. Um, only other thing I have for you guys, as you'll see on the agenda tonight, is the approval of um, some items we want to put up on municip bid. Um, we did one in the winter time when I first got here. We've, you know, been cleaning out some of our, uh, cafeterias with some equipment that's no longer being used, stuff that's been in storage for a number of years. Just want to do another big clean up before the school year starts. get a little bit of extra revenue from that. Um, all the stuff on there is stuff that hasn't hasn't been
105used. We do have one truck on there and then some kitchen equipment. Um, miscellaneous parts and pieces. So, as well as some access points that from from the project there, >> all the old access points we replaced >> wireless access points. Those are on there, too. >> So, you'll see that on there for tonight as well. That's it. I question for you on the municipal end. >> Yeah, >> I just ran it popped into my head right now. I saw it in the area shop or a school district. I couldn't tell you where where it is, but they had an ad in there saying I think a truck for sale and some random stuff. >> Okay. >> How does that compare to like municip like are we do we get pretty good value out of
106the stuff? I didn't even know they were allowed to do that, I guess, but I saw it in the >> like do we get pretty good? >> We do and it's at no cost to us. I mean, the buyer's fee is paid completely by the buyer. Um, a lot of the school districts in our area use municip bid and it seems to be I mean, we've had buyers as far as away from Eastern New York, Ohio. I mean, it's >> it's we seem to get a lot of click rate and lots of bid response. Yeah, that's >> and it's of no cost. So if something doesn't sell, we can relist it or or decide what to do with it from there. So >> we don't have to do the advertising. >> No. >> Yeah. I
107was just curious. I never had seen a school district put something in the area shopper and I I can't even tell you who it was, but I >> I didn't even know the area shopper still existed. >> I didn't I I used to read it. I didn't realize it still existed. It's awesome. So any qu any other questions for Richard and Kristen? financial. >> Okay, just some information items. So, as you know, we're still waiting for uh the state budget to be passed. Um they released a statement from the office of budget on July 29th stating we will not be receiving um any special ed, basic ed, social security or transportation subsidy. Um typically when this has happened in the past, they started releasing at least one payment of that in August. um they will
108not be releasing any payments to us until the budget is passed. So um I was on a call today. They said um if they don't pass it here soon by the end of the month or in next month um if they're pushing October, they're going to just do a six-month budget. Um so hopefully that could pass faster than a year budget. So we just kind of have to wait and see. As I get information, we'll keep you guys updated. Um we'll be okay for the next couple months. Um hopefully by then it'll be passed. If not, we'll get into a little sticky situation here first of the the year maybe um December January time frame. Um as Patty stated, the title two and title four funds um they took those away in the end of
109June and they just restored them um a week and a half ago. So that was exciting news that we got. Um and our allocation amounts did not change from what they were projecting us to get in title two and four. Um, so those amounts stayed the same. So that was some exciting news. Um, the bond money, the last 2022 bond money, um, those funds have been depleted. Um, so now we are completely done with our bond funds. And just, if you remember, we have that facility grant out there that we got, which is a little over 4 million um, from the state. So, we are I have submitted all that paperwork with all the invoices to go ahead and draw the other half of that money down to continue to pay for the rest of
110our facility um payments for the Cambridge construction. So, that money is gone. Um the audit will be September 8th. Um just so you're aware, um we're continuing to work on finalizing the numbers for the end of the school year. Um, and we should have a better idea next month of where we're going to finish at. Um, but we we're still working on all those acrual journal entries to get the financials accurate as of June 30th. U, moving on to agenda items, the treasur reports, you'll go ahead and see um there's two on there for July and August since we didn't we had a July meeting, but we didn't touch on any of that information. So, you'll see um both both reports on there. Dispersements, same thing. You'll see July's uh dispersements and August dispersements. Really
111nothing new on there. Um the last of the budget transfers should be coming through. If you recall, we can't do budget transfers now um until after October 1st. So, you probably will not be seeing any unless there's a couple that fell through if if we have invoices that come in that need any transfers. Um that'll be the last of your transfers until October. Um the 25 26 depositories. This is an annual. Um these are where we keep all of our money. It seems like there's quite a few accounts on there, but that's also your activity funds. Um our regular funds, our construction fund, or capital fund. Um you know, we check the best um interest rates and that and keep those funds in the higher interest yielding account and transfer it as needed. Um the
112agreement to sell meals with the FCCA, again, annual agreement. um that we just have to approve. It's it's no cost to you guys. It's just allowing us to um sell those meals to the the prek. Breakfast, lunch, and alle cart prices um are on there again annual. We approve these every year. And the epic communication agreement for the 2627 school year um those are always the year ahead of what we're entering. Um, and that is just the -ate funding that we received um that you guys have approved like access points, server racks, and all that stuff. Um, we only pay like 20% and the rate covers the 80% of that cost. And that's it. There any questions? >> The bond when we did the project, we had a contingency built in, I think, of 400,000
113for the 300. >> No, I remember we build in a contingency. >> We always build in a contingency. Usually it's only like 125,000. >> I remember more at the elementary school that was uh used up. >> I know we did um an add-on to the project and we used some of that contingency. Was all the contingency >> uh not yet. Okay. I I have not seen any contingency line on our on our invoice yet. >> Okay. >> Unless I mean Richard, do you know how we dipped in a contingency fund? >> Not that I'm aware of. There was a couple things that >> maybe it was within what if conversation. >> Yeah, maybe it was already within the scope. >> Maybe within the scope. >> So when the project's over, >> we potentially >> like
114we ran into a small add-on for the louvers in the gym. I think that was like $7,500 or I mean small stuff. There was nothing major that I can think of >> wasn't that part of the cons uh there was a plumbing possible plumbing if we ran into issue a drainage issue we wanted to have >> there was a plumbing yeah >> yeah and I yeah I don't think we needed it >> I not that I'm a not that we were made aware of this >> they're working on a punch list right now >> we'll know more here >> so then any of that will be used to >> I can try and get >> how will that money be used not for the project >> well we'll reconcile the final project cost. So, your
115bond money is gone. So, right now, we're just working off of our state money that we're going to receive. So, the general fund will have to >> front that cost unless we receive it in. We have an invoice that we just got for the completion of July. >> So, unless we receive it like next week, we're going to have to eventually pay that bill. >> Yeah. >> Um and then it'll supplement it back. >> So, if there's anything supplement that's >> Yes. So, we've already paid um some of those invoices we've already paid that we're requesting back from the state. So if there is a amount left, it's going to probably be a small amount and then we can we can discuss whether we want to leave that in fund 32 um for future project
116or throw it into capital. But yeah, we'll have a better idea here probably I mean they're wrapping up so I will have August invoice the first week of September. So maybe by the next board meeting we'll have a better idea of final cost depending on the bunch of stuff. Other questions for Chris before we move into the meeting? Move into the voting meeting. Um, any citizen comments on agenda items? >> I don't have any registered. I don't know if there's anything. >> Number four, the approval of the minutes. Resolved that the Penrest board of school directors approve the following minutes. July 14th, 2025. This was a special school board voting meeting. So >> move a motion and a second in coverage questions. Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Same. Motion carried.
117>> The number five policies. We have a first reading of policy 918. This is the title one parent and family engagement policy. There's actually no changes to the policy, but we have to bring it up um every other year, I believe it is, and have to put it before the public and put it before that. So, there's no change. It's the first reading. We'll do the uh approval next month. Um under policy approvals on letter B, um resolve that the Penrest board of school directors approve the following policies. Policy 237, acceptable use of personally owned electronic devices. >> So move second there. Motion in a second. Any comments or questions? >> Uh yeah, I' I've got some questions, I guess. What What is acceptable use? I I've read through this and what are we defining
118as exceptional use and where can it be used at? I mean, are we keeping these out of the classroom? >> The the expectation is no cell phones bellto bell in the classrooms. >> Okay. How what what's our enforcement on that? >> So the immediate enforcement is teachers enforcing that. Okay. Um and then there is goes to goes through a process goes through progressive discipline teacher princ you know >> right you know that is that what you're asking >> well I'm getting to something because I I had a couple students that graduated last year come to me >> okay >> and they said students were bringing in two phones they put one in the pouch and they'd be back on the other one and don't all kids are smart oh yeah >> they're going to find
119out any way they can to not follow the rules. And actually uh Mr. Porter's daughter is one of the ones that come up to me and told was telling me this and it didn't surprise me. I mean I was a kid. I kind of remember some of this stuff but not phones. But uh I guess I'm more of the I'm more of just not having cell phones on premises really. But that's just my opinion. Uh, I just want to make if we're going to have this no cell phones in class and they get caught with it, I there needs to be strict punishment. So the others will say, "Ah, I'm not going to do that. It's not worth it." Or I I don't want to stretch these, you know, all you get one time you
120get a slap on the wrist. Next time don't do it again. Hey, if you get caught with it, you're there should be something severe as far as I'm concerned. Yeah. And I believe it's it's it's it's in the handbook and it's and it says that I believe the second offense to him is automatic parent call has to come in and get the phone. All right. Uh but even sometimes I mean we're going to do the best we can. >> I know >> and and I've shared with the uh building administrators that um if this doesn't work and we're doing it, the next step is a total ban, >> right? >> And that may be if that needs to be in October, we'll do it in October. I don't think we need to wait a whole
121year if it's not working. >> Okay. I I mean, and that I guess that's just what I want to make sure. If this isn't working, we want to take the next step. I will say I think it's great to stay in New York did it. I wish more states would do this. >> Yes. >> Uh cuz I do think it takes away from the kids in class. They get distracted or too worried about what's on here. So, >> and and part of the part of it is that like when you talk to different buildings, it's a different >> Oh, of course. So, we go we look at Cambridge, they have one their eyes are looking at it one way with their experience. You go to Maplewood, we we they don't hear hardly anything about cell
122phones. So, my point is number one, are we not worrying about it or we need no reception out there? I mean, >> there you go. Problem solved. >> Yeah. So, and we have and we have shut the the Wi-Fi down at all the buildings during the day. So, that's the other thing we're doing. So, now they they don't have the possibility of getting on our Wi-Fi network during the day, too. So, we've done some other things from a technology perspective. Um, but if it's not working, then we'll bring it back to you and then and then I'll be I'll be the first one to recommend a total ban. But you're saying that the principles and the teachers are all on the same page. >> Yeah. They're the ones that brought the principles brought us this.
123>> It was a compromise because not all of them agreed, >> right? Because students say, "Well, this teacher's lax on it. This teacher >> there's not one level." >> Correct. >> So what do we do when the lax teacher continues to let them use the cell phones? >> Well, that's the building principle. step up and fix it, >> right? That's and that's what we've said. I mean, we've had those conversations this summer because we've looked at it all summer and and said I said I can I can go to the board and get behind this because it was a mainly the high school principles coming together because they didn't all agree and they said this is what we want to try. and I said that's fine, but if it's not working and we're walking through
124the halls and we're seeing it or we're hearing it, then I will come back to this board and say this is where we need to go. >> I think you're definitely right there, Tim. Like I agree with you. It's uh and one of the scarier things yet is even like AI, you know, like the amount of school work that's getting done with AI now is like I think we'd all be surprised. But I know there are tons of people which we can't stop them. There's only so much you can go. You can't stop what somebody's doing at home. But >> I'm just saying it can be scary, destructive to society to a new. >> It's not just that though. It it is, you know, people communicating and having conversations and not >> we lose the
125ability just be able to talk to each other. >> For sure. >> So anyhow, that's a good word. >> I'll say I know I've said it to people, you know, side conversations, but it worries me. Um, our lockers are not used in the buildings. They're too small uh for some classes for some 9th, 10th grade, I believe. That's scary to me. So, the kids can't put their cell phone in a locked locker because they don't have room in the lockers to put anything. And so, they carry a lot of stuff. >> I've brought it up before. I think it's a terrible idea for kids to be walking around with backpacks. I think it's a bad idea for them to be walking around in backpacks in the classroom. That's opening the door for a lot of
126problems. And so I know we're talking cell phone policy. I think this is holistically is we need to have spaces for the kids to be able to put stuff safe loft. And I wish we can get creative. Um I've walked that building. I don't I'm not the principal. Um, but I I mean I I have a kid who's like, "No, nobody uses the locker room." Um, so I know that's a huge expense, but perhaps if we could find some creative thinking, even the locker room lockers, um, which are not utilized, uh, those brand new nice locker room lockers, they're not utilized, but I know that opens the door cuz that you got to have somebody monitoring stuff in there. If you have a locked space to put the cell phone and then you have certain
127specific times of when the kid can access that cell phone, that's a whole different story. Um, but yeah, they walk around with it freely. That's a problem. >> Can I bring up Can I I know it's not registered comments. If I can touch on that real quick from the firsthand experience as a substitute teacher. >> Let's let's keep it real quick because we're kind of stay the only one that just concerns me is um and maybe other teachers would concur. the hallways between the classes. I've seen that because I substitute so much. They're right away edging that. They can't wait to get to that cell phone, the bell rings and it's open and then you have that issue getting them shut down the next classroom. I I just point that out in the policy there
128that wow the the hallways between classes could be eliminated that I think that would help a lot from a personal experience and maybe other teachers would concur. I just one more I just had a quick question too like Randy I love his idea. My my question was where is the f the cell phone physically permitted >> because our students can carry backpacks which again I completely disagree with. Their lockers Randy I disagree with you. They're big enough. Everything can fit in. I went to high school. If we had those skinny little lockers everything, my jacket, my boots, everything fit. They can buy locks. They can fit everything in their locker. >> Yes. I wish the cell phones would just stay in the locker because when they be be when they're on their body >> temptation
129>> the the it's like sending a drunk in with a bottle of vodka in their back pocket. Just drink it. >> It's a terrible It's a terrible analogy, but it's an addiction and it it truly is. We've seen kids shake who have to turn over their cell phones. We've had parents and SRO's fight with students who are physically sitting there shaking, having to turn over their cell phones. I just wish that they could stay locked in a locker. >> I'll add that I think it's foolish for us to think that we just say the principal, the teacher take it. End of story. Often times that's when the story begins and that's when the headache begins because when you have law officers asking 13, 14y olds for and they're refusing to do it and the parents
130are saying no, I want the kid to have a phone. That's a problem. So let's not think ignorantly that, oh, just enforce the policy. End of end of the story, the story's over. often times when we start enforcing the policy that's the beginning of the story I would imagine. >> Oh yeah. I was in I was in two meetings already last year. >> Yeah. >> Where parents were screaming at me that it's their right and I said no that's not too right. >> Right. >> You know and I just and then we banned it because >> and if you talk to Mil Creek they've had beautiful results. >> Absolutely. They love it. >> I would say this this starts with the mom or dad or family. Just tell your daughter or son not to bring
131a cell phone. That would be lovely. But it doesn't have to >> unfortunately. >> I would love to tell them right. >> I could tell my >> I 100% would want my kid to have a phone. I would be against that. >> Really? >> Yeah. 100%. Things change, schedules change. I have to get my my wife and I have to get my body somewhere somewhere else. Stuff changes. I don't rely on the communication from the school. I have one kid in two different build or two kids in two different buildings. the communication is different. Um, often times my daughter will tell me not during the school day, but at the end of the day or at lunchtime, something has changed. And so I have now x amount of time to adjust my day to make
132sure she's getting to where she needs to be. If there's ever an incident, I want to be able to make sure she's okay. So I 100% I don't want it in a room. I think that's wrong. I agree. No classes. That's why I wish lockers. >> We got a lot of years without a cell phone and things worked out just fine. So, I will disagree agree to disagree on that. But I mean, I'll vote for this policy. I just want to make sure if this doesn't work and we're going to take the next step. I'm I'm right with Tim on this, too. I think we just need to make it so crystal clear and that this is like the absolute last chance >> and they abuse it, we will ban them. >> And I think
133that's being pretty gracious from my standpoint. I think Tim as well like we're both >> Oh, yeah. I would ban. I mean, we're putting out we're putting out here as soon as you guys were approved this, it's going out mass enforced to parents, everybody. We have >> I just think we're setting I think we're setting the teachers up and I think we're setting the principles up with problems if they have it on their person. >> I agree. >> It's setting them up. And >> I do too. >> When we have them acting out and shaking, >> it just needs to be in the locker. >> Yep. >> We bought our own locks back when we were in the day >> and Everything's on camera. >> They don't really even have to have a lock. Those
134cameras are perfect. Like, we don't have theft anymore. I know, but we don't have theft anymore, really. Cuz they can go right back on the camera and say, "Oh, why was he in that's not his locker? There it is." So, >> number one issue, discipline. >> If we want to make it put in their locker, I'd vote for that right now. >> Yes. I 100% behind that. And like I said, they can buy locks and they can fit stuff in that locker. Kids have to start adapting to overcome. That's it. They make a motion to amend. >> I mean, either way, it's not going to be figured out before the start of the school year. So, we need to pass this policy now. >> I I believe um >> I believe we can >> if
135they want to make changes. I believe we can absolutely um change the procedures because the policy >> Yeah. Right. >> I I believe that we could change >> where the change would be would be in the handbook. >> Um and that would have to be um >> we would have to Jordan. How would we do that? Because we already voted on the handbook, I believe. No, we haven't. So, we're good. So, we could actually we could actually make that into the handbook. >> Um correct. Yeah, that's right. >> I'm comfortable that the policy, we removed the language in the policy that that could be done in the handbook. Are you agreeing on that? >> George, >> yes, I am. >> Okay. All right. That's So, this would be the policy. When we get to that
136section, I'll pull it out and then um Jordan, you can help me go through the the rules on that. Okay. So, >> we got a motion in a second. We've had a lot of comments and questions. >> All in favor say I. I >> oppose. Same. >> I'm sorry. Were we approving this policy? >> Just the policy, but we're going to pull it out of the handbook. >> We're going to make the changes. >> So, that'll then we'll >> I heard a mention earlier and I just want to Yep. In the lockers. >> Okay. Yes. >> And it'll be really up to the students lock be up to them if they want to lock that. >> Maybe then they'll start using the locker. So they're not carrying >> we have in here that we're not
137responsible for that. So it'll be up to the students to do that. >> Okay. Awesome. [Music] >> Yeah. >> Thank you. All right. So letter C under policies, this is the iPad loss or damage report form approval. This is resolved that the Penrest board of school directors approve of the attached iPad loss or damage report form. Um this is a form that's been around. We're just bringing it um to the board for approval um because uh we're trying to crack we're trying to crack down on the number of breakages and we want to get this out and that's Mark and Mark I thank him and his team for putting this together and uh I think there was we've been using the form and so I just wanted it to bring for board approval have a
138little more teeth to it. >> So move second. >> Have a motion to second. Any comments or questions hearing? None. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos same. Motion carried. [Music] >> What's that? >> Yep. I'm going to do that. Under the education report, we are going to remove letter E from the consent agenda. Well, that'll be a separate item that we bring up. So, the first So, the first motion will be um resolved that the Pentest board of school directors approve the consent agenda items B through P with the exception of E. >> So, move second. >> There's a motion to second. Any comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. >> Oppos same. Most carry. >> Under the education report on letter E. This would be resolved that
139the Penrest board of school directors approve the attached 202526 handbook and discipline nature. Jordan, before we vote on that, how should we go about the edit process on that >> for the handbook? >> Yes. >> Yeah. So, I mean, you just had the proposed handbook on for the agenda. Um, you know, and that's the purpose of the public discussion on it. So, >> I think you could just go back and um post for the amended agenda for the evening. Um, well, you actually don't have to amend the agenda. You just amend what would be the backup to the agenda. to reflect the changes that were discussed this evening. >> So then we'll go into the handbook on page 11 and change that to say cell phones will stay in lockers. >> Is that correct? That
140would be before entering home room. >> I was going to say there's other questions that follow that. What about cafeteria lunchtime? >> Well, they would get it. >> Your initial plan had arrival cafeteria dismissal. I think that's >> Yes. Yeah. >> So, they would just get it out of their locker at this time. >> Yeah. >> and then put it back. >> And if >> I think I think where the the change will have to be as though we're putting it in the lockers, the change will have to also come out of the hallway. >> And I think >> because they're not going to have enough time to go to the lockers, get that. We don't want that. >> So, I think we eliminate that. I think they potentially could get it to go to
141the cafeteria and then back. >> And if that becomes a problem, it's easy to say no more cafeteria. That's that's accurate. >> That's accurate. >> Okay. >> So, before home room, they have to put it in their locker, correct? >> Right. Arrival. >> Upon arrival, put it in your locker. That'll be the change. >> Yeah. >> Well, I have arrival until home room is still acceptable, but by home room, it has to be in there. Is that what I'm hearing? >> Yes. >> And then cafeteria and dismissal. >> Yes. >> Yep. We will make >> But if it's abused, we will take away. >> Correct. >> How is dismissal? Is there a PM home room or they just missed out or last? >> PM home. Okay. >> We don't even have morning home. [Music] >>
142Yeah. >> Yes, you can. So I mean the whole point of uh having on the agenda is so the board can discuss and that's what you've done and you're making a few changes based upon that discussion. >> Yeah. So just read it as as it's on there and then put with changes in it with the or do you want me to spell out the changes in the motion? >> No, I don't think you need to spell out the changes in the motion. So whenever you have an item on the agenda for board discussion, right, you've discussed it. So now the discussion's concluded with some changes, but you don't need to go back and fix any. That's the whole point of convening for a public meeting and having discussion on these issues. >> Okay. Very good.
143>> Thank you. >> No problem. >> All right. So Bob, I'll read that again. Letter E. Under the education resolve, the Penrest board of school directors approve the attached 2526 handbooks and discipline matrix. So move second. Any comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. >> Post same. >> Motion carried. >> Under the facilities report resolve that the Penrest board of school directors approve the consent agenda financial items B through H as presented. Second have a motion in a second. Any comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. Same. Motion carried. >> We missed facilities. >> No, it was the financial. >> I missed I missed it. I'll go back and do it. >> Okay. >> I knew it. I did. Sorry about that. >> That's all. >>
144All right. >> So, you have that. So, we need to go back to facilities, right? >> Okay. >> I thought it was >> under number seven, resolve that the penrest board of school directors approve the consent agenda for facilities and transportation items B2P. >> So, move motion in a second. Any comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I >> say motion carried >> number nine. >> Yes, we're on. >> Yes, I know. Resolve that the Penrest board of school directors approve the consent agenda personnel items B through J as presented. >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any comments or questions? >> Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. post saying motion carried. So the next one is under new business. This is in regards to the
145solar. Um I think what we'll do is I'll go ahead and read this and then uh we can have a discussion on it after after we have the motion and do that and then we'll decide where we want to go with it. So under new business, resolve that with the Penrest board of school directors approved the letter of intent with you source a Nextera Energy Company to begin the RFP process for the PA solar schools grant program at a cost of 42,000 pending the solicitor review. >> So move second. >> There's a motion in a second. Any comments or questions? >> I'd like to say the same thing. >> I'd like to make a motion to table this for right now. I think we have a month anyways. I just don't think we should rush
146it. We're going to get this opinion. >> Yeah, we got some different Mike. You're going to have ears take a look. >> Yeah, if you want like my wife said. >> And I'd like to hear Richard's opinion, too. He's still pondering. >> Who's second the motion table? Okay. I just wanted to make sure >> we now have an amendment. We have a second to that. We need a Yeah, we need a We need a >> David made a motion. >> Second. >> I think we got it. >> All right. >> Any comments or questions? >> No, I I I I think we all agree we need more information. >> I mean, the the I'm sure the numbers he give us, like he said, comes from one place in Colorado. I'm sure the statistic part of
147it good, but I would like Richard's opinion and some other people. >> Yeah, my wife, she can set it up easily with REA and have someone come out and assess it and give us an honest opinion on that. >> I think the future is uncertain right now during the current atmosphere in Washington. >> I I agree wholeheartedly. >> Okay. Any other comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same. Motion carried. >> Number 11. Announcements. The board met for executive session on August 11th, 2025. Um, we actually discussed we did not get to personnel. So, we did not talk about personnel in in that. we had that listed. Um so we did have we had legal um discussion and the discussion in the legal was in the realm of
148talking about boundaries. Um and so that was the discussion in there where we were talking about equal representation and boundaries. And so that that ate up our time. So I did want to put that out there for an announcement. Um, any citizens comments on non-aggenda items? >> I would. >> Yeah. Um, I just, uh, Debbie Miller, Rockdale Township. I just, uh, I applaud the new direction of the board with the committee of the whole. It's nice as a public person too to hear the discussion like the policy, like the whatever that is going on in that. But it's really hard for us to know what's coming and follow. Um I don't know. It just seems like there needs to be a little bit better of and I don't know what the answer is but if
149you think in the old way Monday work session the week before and items would be out even like documents or things to look at and then the public had a week to kind of maul it over and whatever and see if we had questions and then the vote was the next. And I'm not saying this isn't efficient. There just needs a little bit uh better information coming out to the public. Um even in the meetings like I appreciate tonight um we alerted them that there was a little mistake and one of the documents was on file but like this it's wonderful and you guys I'm sure get more like in front of you but as the public we're like we're trying so hard to like understand and comprehend fast >> and so if there I
150don't know what the answer is except the only thing I can think of is more things being on the agenda in document form. form. So like if I want to look at the at least the summary of the solar thing or if I do you know what I'm saying something so we have a a means to look at it beforehand and that also includes um names and things under personnel. I know like in the past they would appear then on the final agenda like so and so's retiring or so and so is getting hired and whatever and I like like we just hired two people and in the past we would have at the voting meeting like have them stand up and applaud them or something like we still don't even know who was hired
151tonight. Do you see what I'm saying? Like if there's ways that we can um allow whatever is allowable but more information out um at least in the online form. >> Mr. President, could I just make a comment? I I agree that we should never find out the information and vote in the same night. The the former way of doing it gave us an opportunity to look at everything. Um the agendas go up on what? Friday, Thursday, Friday. So, you can't expect everybody to look at all this information and be ready to vote on it the same night. This is so much better. or the the former wave also I believe in our community engagement that's for the community to engage with us and that's the last thing we're doing on those nights the first thing
152we should do is invite the community what do you want to say to us so we can talk back to you that's the community engagement it instead it became a showcase of what the principal in that school is doing but we didn't mention anything about test scores and where we're at on those, but we said what we're doing is the community. So, community engagement has to be the community engaging, not a presentation or if you're going to do the presentation, make it after the public comment. >> Well, you got to have the presentation first so there's topics to talk about. And test scores were on every presentation. We had test scores on every presentation. Yeah, they did. I agree with you on everything, but I'm just saying test scores were on presentation >> and they
153were representative of where they were and where they were going, whether they increased or decreased. >> Yeah, they showed us all for >> I remember Miss Fonzo having a conversation with test scores. Is that correct? Sorry, I won't put her on the spot. You had test. >> I think it's just a learning curve. >> So, we're actually together. So, actually The data presentation Mrs. Fonzo did was here and it was done at not at a community presentation but it was done. >> So to say that that hasn't been put out is not accurate. It was done. She did a nice job right here but we didn't do it again and then they all the principles had different data on those nights but the actual data that you're talking about how we did how we did
154how we didn't do was here. >> Yes. We had different data >> on the community engagement. >> We always did have star our star benchmark for >> your star benchmark because I asked you the proficiency. >> It was as of December and we had most of our kids were already proficient in levels and I asked if that was last year's data or current star data and it was current. >> But I agree we're trying to figure this out so it works the best way for all of us. That's our interest. >> Yeah. clarifying the policy tonight that there were like no changes because even last month I looked at the policy and I didn't have my my cell phone had no service so I had no way to look at the policy and the policy
155was wrong last month that was attached and I didn't catch it and then I was like that policy didn't change at all you're like it tightens up the policy so I'm like Mr. It does really tighten up because the Brown policy was off and now I read the new one. I'm like, "Oh, this makes sense now." >> But I think it also be nice to have the community engagement with the teachers talking to us as well, not just the parents community engagement. We need the teachers input. I don't think we need to have another meeting just to have the teachers come and tell us what they need or what's working or not working. And I thought that was going to be a part of community. >> Well, we have teachers have been at every community.
156>> They're at every meeting. I see. >> No, they're every community meeting. >> But you have the same group. >> But thank you. >> And to answer your question, Dave took advantage of it. There was something that he didn't want to vote on tonight, so he made a moment amendment to table. >> And you all have that right at every meeting. If there's something that you don't want to vote on, you can table it, >> right? Okay, let's get out of here. >> Any other any other citizens? I believe we had more citizens. >> Oh, sorry. >> Jeff Gable from Hville Township. Just some quick notes because hearing tonight kind of pushing the solar thing is Mr. Ford and I will get you the requirements for the township tomorrow. that will answer a lot of
157questions because we've had civic meetings on these and questions by the public from chemicals to noise making to everything uh that will reflect price like he mentioned it'll have fencing. Yes, it'll have fencing but it's also required to be screened so that you're not driving by and just seeing a fence there in the solar field behind it. You know those are expenses. Things that bog down the system can be what the utility requires. If anything is hooking to the utility, if they're required to spend money to put f put in equipment to hook to the system, that's a timetable for them, an expense for them, how long they take to to go for it. There's also water runoff. Two projects north of well sort of north of me here that have been improved. the questions
158even after we went through is the government come along and water runoff a small stream going through can change things. So you have to kind of make sure you go through all that ahead of time. Uh it takes it is an exception zoning exception in the township. So, it's going to need a couple months to be approved by the township because the uh first Tuesday of the month it'll it'll go through and third Tuesday of the month it'll go through zoning. I'm member of zoning and then the next month it goes through supervisors. It'll have to have that and just little things like that. I'll get them to you and that'll answer a lot of questions because there's so much room for EMS, for fire engines, all that stuff. We've taken into account of that.
159We've been three and a half, four years putting something together what soul how the solar should go in. >> So, >> thank you to let you know. >> Thanks, Jeff. I appreciate it. >> I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I'm Hannah Dailyaly. I was hired for the um 9101 PLA position at Maplewood. So, I just want to say hello. >> One note, I forgot one thing I forgot to mention on the solar field is the price of panels. There's panels that are 20 years life, panels that are 30 years life, and that all takes account into >> Well, he he showed us 35 years. Well, he may have 35, but I don't know if the panel was for 35. There may be a replacement thing. >> That was 35. >> Okay. Okay.
160>> That was 35. >> My just question is I haven't had anybody came to our things from the solar people that had something that lasted that long. >> And when they are replaced, they are recyclable. So, yes, there's expenses to replace the panel, but there's usually some money back on the recycling. All right. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. >> Any other comments? >> So move. Say hi. >> All right.