Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Renewable Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community group and students pitch $500K solar pilot; district asked to consider $250K match
Summary
Sustain Verona and student leaders presented a proposal to put solar panels on Verona Area School District buildings. Presenters said they and the Verona Area Education Foundation would fundraise and asked the board to consider setting aside $250,000 as a 1:1 district match while the group seeks grants and other funds.
A local sustainability group called Sustain Verona, together with student members of the high school green club, presented a solar project concept to the Verona Area School District board and asked the board to consider a district match of up to $250,000 to help launch an initial rooftop array.
Sustain Verona founder David Lonsdorf and student Audrey Helmke described community fundraising and student engagement plans. Lonsdorf said Sustain Verona’s goal is to spark community climate action and raised examples of nearby districts and municipalities that have installed solar panels through partnerships and citizen fundraising.
District staff outlined an initial concept: staff suggested a pilot array on the high school roof with an overall project estimate in the materials near $500,000 once grants and offsets are accounted for. The presenters described a district‑goal proposal that Sustain Verona raise private donations and the Verona Area Education Foundation act as the 501(c)(3) conduit for gifts; the district would provide a 1:1 match up to $250,000 set aside from one‑time funds or a dedicated balance. As the presentation put it, “we would potentially ask the board for $250,000 of money we would likely set aside,” and Sustain Verona would work to raise a comparable amount.
Presenters and staff also described technical and financial assumptions shared by a contractor (Westfall Electric): the draft project would be roughly a $500,000 system, an estimated production figure presented in the meeting was described as about “3,300,000 kilowatts” (meeting presenters used that phrasing), the district currently spends about $600,000 a year on electricity, and the projected payback was presented as roughly seven years under current assumptions. Presenters emphasized the estimate is preliminary and that a formal request for proposals and grant chasing would follow if the board gave positive feedback.
Board members responded with general support and questions about scale, social procurement and opportunities for student internships and STEM programming tied to the installation and monitoring. One board member urged examining social‑responsibility sourcing for panels and suppliers; another noted the educational benefits and the potential to scale the project across the district.
No vote was taken. The board asked staff and Sustain Verona to continue developing the plan and return with a final project for possible board endorsement and a funding recommendation.
