Members of the Facilities Accountability Committee got an hour briefing on the logistics for a school district entering into a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) at the July 23 FAC meeting. Michael Austin of Thompson Hine Law Firm provided the presentation by video conference.
The District is considering placing solar panels on the new high school. In his PowerPoint presentation, Austin explained the tax credit benefits for the vendor and also shared the concerns with a Solar PPA. Some concerns include: state and federal regulatory parameters, insurance, contractual issues and legal fees. Austin stressed, “You want to make sure whoever the District enters into a contract with, is going to be around for a long time.” The school board has not yet made a decision on a Solar PPA.
The reconstruction of the new high school will last two years. The design does include the building being solar-ready in case a PPA decision is made at a later time.
Safety and Security
The new high school will include extensive safety and security measures. FAC member Julie Egre, who chairs the FAC security subcommittee, shared the results of a June meeting with the Safety and Security Coordinator at the High School, along with other District staff.
As the new high school is under construction, Heights High students will attend the Wiley Campus/Temporary Heights High from 2015-2017. South Euclid Councilman-at-large and FAC member Marty Gelfand expressed concern that the dismissal time for Heights High students should be 20 to 30 minutes earlier than the dismissal time for Brush High School students.
The CH-UH School District has had ongoing meetings with the South Euclid Police Department about safety and security measures at the Wiley Campus/Temporary Heights High site. The new Heights High bell schedule has been adjusted and students will start school 15 minutes earlier to ensure students have adequate time to get to the RTA bus stops for after school transportation.
Fundraising
Discussions continue about attracting key donors to assist with projects beyond the budget for the new high school. One of those projects is repairing the clock tower. Within the high school facilities project, there is a set amount of money to make limited repairs. Board member Eric Silverman said discussions are in the works with a possible donor to make more extensive repairs and restore the clock tower. That would cost upwards of $400,000.
Community Engagement
As work continues on the new high school, there is interest from some community members to make sure the building is used as a teaching tool. Design Team member Steve Zannoni said the new high school will include an energy dashboard, showing some of the mechanical and technical inner-workings of the building. Just how that will be incorporated into the curriculum is still in the planning phase.
Demolition continues at the current Heights High at the corner of Cedar and Lee. The science wing is scheduled to be razed on August 4.
University Heights Council members are collaborating with the CH-UH School Board of Education to host a Welcome Reception and Open House for University Heights residents and to welcome high school students on Thursday, August 20 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Wiley Campus/Temporary Heights High.
The next FAC meeting also will be held August 20, 7 p.m. (Location to be determined.)
The mission of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District’s Facilities Accountability Committee is to monitor and regularly report to the Board of Education regarding the status, progress and expenditure of funds for Phase 1 of the District’s comprehensive plan, as authorized by District voters as Issue 81 in November 2013.
The FAC’s responsibilities include: monitoring the implementation of the Facilities Master Plan; as well as reviewing the status of construction, financing and fundraising, following proposed and actual construction costs, and reviewing community engagement in school planning, construction contracting and construction workforce.