Committee refers solar power-purchase agreements and discusses disposition plans for Wiley and former Stone schools

The facilities and operations subcommittee on July 14 recommended that full committee members consider two power-purchase agreements (PPAs) that would allow private providers to install and operate solar systems on district property at RPA and Fonska (venue names as discussed) with no upfront cost to the district, a 20‑year agreement term and a district benefit of a discounted electricity rate.

Mr. Pacheco introduced the feasibility work and said the district examined roof, ground-mount and canopy options; RPA was singled out as attractive because of a brand-new roof and minimal shading. "Because RPA's roof is new and there's no shading, there are no issues with them putting the system on the roof," Mr. Pacheco told the committee. The subcommittee voted to refer the PPA proposals to the full committee.

The subcommittee also voted to refer a disposition discussion for the Wiley School and the former Stone School. Mr. Pacheco said Wiley, a single-unit building, would require an estimated $8 million renovation and the district would likely have only a single usable unit post-renovation; the district would incur about $10,000 to empty the building. The former Stone School is on the historic register, making demolition difficult; renovation estimates cited at the subcommittee ranged around $6–7 million for fixes to the single-unit structure and the capital plan included larger requests for new construction options over five years.

The nut graf: the district can pursue new solar PPAs with no upfront cost and a guaranteed 20-year term, while the fate of older single-unit schools turns on large renovation estimates, historic-preservation constraints and the district's capital-plan priorities.

Committee members asked for follow-up financial details and next steps; Mr. Pacheco said the district would be able to remove systems at the end of the 20-year period or re-negotiate a new arrangement. The full committee voted to accept the referral and to consider the PPAs and disposition options at upcoming meetings to allow time for vendor details and public discussion.

Ending: The committee asked administration to return with full PPA contract language and cost-savings estimates, and a clearer cost-benefit analysis and timeline for Wiley and the former Stone School disposition options.