The Caitlin Board of Education voted 6-0 to authorize Assistant Superintendent for Business Jackie Bogan to finalize a community solar contract on behalf of the district, with the execution contingent on the district's legal review. The board gave Bogan delegated authority to select the option that best meets the district's financial and operational needs.

Board members focused their questions on contract length, renewal terms and operational risk. Becky Thompson, a consultant with Nenea who returned to the board to provide updated market information, said one developer is offering a subscription tied to a local farm in Aurora in Kane County and structured as a 25-year arrangement that renews in five-year increments. "They are offering a 25-year contract that renews in 5-year increments," Thompson said. "It's essentially a 5-year contract with the opportunity to renew up to 25 years."

Thompson told the board the arrangement would preserve a 10% shared discount on the solar credits and that savings using current ComEd rates and the district's historical usage are estimated at about $46,000 annually. She also summarized how the Illinois community-solar billing works: credits generated for the subscribed portion are flowed through a bill, the developer bills the district for 90% of those credits and the district retains the 10% benefit. "The credits by law for in Illinois for this community solar program to work the way it's structured ... the developer would bill you for 90% of those credits and you retain the 10%," Thompson said.

Board members pressed on exit and renewal mechanics. Thompson described contract provisions that preserve the 10% discount through renewals and an advance-notice period to decline renewal. She said common scenarios for not renewing would be changes in district usage or adoption of on-site solar, not that a markedly better off-market deal was likely to appear. She described the developer's obligation to maintain the system as separate from the district's responsibilities: "You're not tied to the infrastructure in any way ... there's no out of pocket cost," Thompson said. Board members noted the draft contract still needed review by the district attorney before final signature.

The formal motion, made during new business, authorized Bogan to finalize and execute the community solar contract pending legal review. A roll-call vote recorded Ayes from all six voting members present; the motion passed 6-0. The board's action delegates final selection to the assistant superintendent for business and requires the attorney's review before execution. The district will return with any material changes required by legal counsel or by developments with the developer's proposed site or subscription terms.