A 248-kilowatt photo voltaic array on the roof of Phoenix Excessive Faculty, as seen from a drone picture, saves about $19,000 a yr in vitality prices. Photo voltaic panels could possibly be added to extra Phoenix-Expertise faculties with pandemic reduction and grant funds. [Photo by Phoenix-Talent School District]
Utilizing a mix of COVID-19 reduction and grant funding, Phoenix-Expertise Faculty District hopes to improve quite a few amenities, starting from a “health playground” at the highschool to photo voltaic arrays at its elementary and center faculties.
Jon McCalip, director of amenities at Phoenix-Expertise Faculty District spoke in regards to the challenge proposals at Phoenix Excessive Faculty, Expertise Center Faculty and Expertise Elementary Faculty throughout a Jan. 5 faculty board assembly.
“Maintain your fingers crossed — I do know I’ll,” McCalip informed board members.
A health playground at the highschool would make the most of a second spherical of federal pandemic reduction, often called ESSER II. However earlier than McCalip can pursue these funds, the challenge should get authorised by the college board and Oregon Division of Schooling. McCalip tasks if all goes in keeping with plan, the playground could be accomplished by June 30.
In the meantime, the district is pursuing grants by way of Enterprise Oregon TES and TMS for these faculties’ seismic rehabilitation wants. McCalip famous seismic upgrades could be essential to with the ability to help the photo voltaic panels, which might probably be positioned on the roofs of TMS and TES.
As for the proposed photo voltaic panels on TES and TMS, the district is utilizing the Neighborhood Renewable Power Program for vitality effectivity and renewable vitality enhancements at public faculty amenities.
Each photo voltaic and seismic upgrades could possibly be accomplished by fall 2024.
Rogue Local weather is concerned in serving to the district pursue vitality effectivity and photo voltaic grants, McCalip informed members of the college board and the Mail Tribune in an interview. The nonprofit helped the town of Expertise to reinvigorate its clear vitality plan earlier than partnering with the district.
Maeve Hogan, vitality resilience organizer for Rogue Local weather, mentioned she believes there’s a “nice alternative” for Expertise elementary and center faculties.
“(Photo voltaic panels and battery storage items) may then present vitality financial savings to the colleges … and, as well as, be capable to open up the opportunity of the college with the ability to present shelter throughout future disruptions,” Hogan mentioned.
She famous how necessary seismic upgrades, akin to faculty roofs, could be to putting in photo voltaic panels.
“Each of the colleges we’re already wanted extra seismic upgrades to be earthquake ready and resistant,” she mentioned. “Having actually sturdy foundations for buildings is definitely actually good for placing photo voltaic panels on them. You may help the heavy weight of photo voltaic panels.”
Expertise Center Faculty Principal Katherine Holden isn’t concerned with the internal workings of the photo voltaic panel proposal, however she is enthusiastic, nonetheless.
“It’s tremendous thrilling to suppose that we may have photo voltaic panels on Expertise Center Faculty,” Holden mentioned. “I can perceive, given our website … we do get lots of photo voltaic publicity.”
She believes any new know-how added to the college is an effective manner to assist her college students perceive not solely vitality financial savings, however what industries they might enter after they develop up, like engineering.
Phoenix-Expertise Faculty District isn’t any stranger to solar energy. Phoenix Excessive Faculty has a 248-kilowatt photo voltaic array on the roof, which saves about $19,000 a yr in vitality prices.
If TMS and TES are added to the combo and outfitted with photo voltaic panels, McCalip sees motion on these sorts of installments at different faculties within the district.
“If we do these tasks and we’re profitable, I see us most likely Phoenix Elementary and presumably Orchard Hill Elementary Faculty down the highway,” he mentioned.
McCalip additionally talked in regards to the health playground, which isn’t widespread for top faculties. The construction could be situated between the highschool concession stand and the fence by the railroad tracks.
McCalip defined the concept got here from college students with disabilities, together with these in wheelchairs, who wished extra alternatives for bodily exercise.
“This could give them an area to take part indirectly, form or type,” McCalip mentioned.
The health playground may embrace a merry-go-round for wheelchair-bound college students.
However extra broadly, the district hopes your entire pupil physique at Phoenix Excessive Faculty can use it as a substitute for the gymnasium, the highschool monitor and a close-by subject they at present use for train.
“I feel it’s going to be a fantastic addition,” McCalip mentioned.
The health playground at the highschool would observe a playground improve at Expertise Elementary Faculty, which additionally took in ESSER II funds to get the challenge completed.
Attain reporter Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or kopsahl@rosebudmedia.com. Comply with him on Twitter @KevJourno
