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By Dominik Lobkowicz
Contingent on anticipated funding coming through, the Regional School Unit 40 board of directors approved $2.2 million in facility improvements throughout the district.
The board gave its near-unanimous approval at their Nov.7 meeting after Business Manager Karla Miller gave a short presentation on the project. The board had given approval to seek funding for the project at its Oct. 17 meeting.
The project includes retro-fitting selected lighting fixtures, sealing and insulating, and replacement of various heating, refrigerating, and ventilating equipment.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for this district, having visited your buildings,” said interim Superintendent Michael Cormier.
The project, to be completed by Siemens Industry, Inc., was originally planned in a single phase, but because the application for a Qualified Zone Academy Bond, or QZAB, was late, the project is being changed to a two phase implementation, Miller said.
Such a bond would provide federal tax credits to the bond holder approximately equal to the interest on the bond, making the district responsible for repaying primarily principal, according to district documentation.
In an interview on Nov. 8, Miller said the district has been told it will be approved for a $1.4 million QZAB for the first phase in December, but the project will not start until that word comes officially.
“We have to hold off until we get that approval in writing before we can move forward with anything,” Miller said.
Once approval comes through, a bond would need to be in place by Dec. 31 and 10 percent of the bond would need to be spent within six months, Miller said. The project would need to be completed within three years.
Siemens anticipates the project being fully completed within 10 months, Miller said.
“Our plan is, if we’re approved and once the bond is signed, they’ll start replacing lights and start doing things they can do right away,” she said.
Siemens has guaranteed for 17 years the energy savings it estimates the project will bring to the district – savings which will offset the majority of the bond repayment costs, officials say.
Cormier said previously the highest amount the district is anticipated to pay above current budgets – due to the project, anyway – is around $20,000 in year six or seven of the 15 to 20 year bond repayment.
“If we’re not happy with Siemens work, then we don’t have to pay them their performance assurance and we can cancel right then,” Miller said. Built in to the anticipated costs are around $10,000 for Siemens to come do measurements in and around the building to see if the district is receiving the savings which were guaranteed.
If those savings aren’t being met, Siemens will cut the district a check, she said.
Implementation of phase one would probably include replacement of all the lighting in the project, installation of occupancy sensors, insulating and weatherizing the buildings, and upgrades to energy management systems, Miller said.
Phase two would include certain boiler replacements, new walk-in cooler and freezer controls, hot water pump repairs including new variable speed drive, air condition replacements, she said.
Broken down by building, the cost of improvements and repairs are: Union Elementary School, $626,321; Medomak Valley High School, $510,546; Warren Community School, $291,605; Miller Grade School, $247,738; Prescott Memorial School, $96,119; Medomak Middle School, $87,220; and Friendship Village School, $42,469.
The replacement of the Warren Community School roof may be left out of the bond project and instead included in the annual budget, Miller.
“The roof does need to be done,” she said.
