The Board of Education voted to declare itself lead agency for a district energy performance project that includes a boiler replacement at RJO Intermediate School and two renewable-energy carport solar photovoltaic installations at William T. Rogers Middle School and the RJO parking lot. The resolution designated the improvements as an energy performance project and found the work qualifies as a Type II action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), meaning no further environmental review is required.

Doctor Reagan presented the resolution and read the project description and the SEQRA citations. The resolution states the district's energy improvements fall under Type II categories in 6 NYCRR 617.5 (replacement/rehabilitation in kind; installation of solar arrays on existing structures or parking lots where physical alteration does not exceed statute thresholds). The board declared itself lead agency, determined the project to be Type II and resolved to forward the resolution to the New York State Education Department along with correspondence from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Why it matters: the action clears a procedural environmental review step and allows the district to proceed with detailed planning for boiler replacement and solar carport installations. Administration also said the project is intended to improve energy efficiency and add renewable generation capacity on district property.

Next steps: district engineering and energy consultants will proceed with implementation planning and necessary submittals to state education and historic-preservation offices as indicated in the resolution.