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Cary CCSD 26 approves $3.4 million solar installation and junior high roof work
Summary
The Board of Education voted unanimously to contract Allied Facility Partners for solar panels at three schools and a separate roof replacement at Cary Junior High, funded from maturing district investments and state rebates.
The Cary CCSD 26 Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to approve an Allied Facility Partners contract to install solar panels at Oak Knoll, Briargate and Cary Junior High and to approve a separate Cary Junior High roof replacement agreement.
The board approved the solar project in the amount of $3,396,831 and a Cary Junior High roof replacement and repair contract not to exceed $1,922,000. District staff told the board the solar installation will be paid from maturing district investments and that no referendum funds will be used for the solar equipment; the roof work will be billed and accounted for separately and will be paid from referendum funds.
Treasurer's presentation and staff materials said the district paid about $462,000 for electricity in the 2024–25 school year, with roughly $200,000 of that attributed to the facility identified in the presentation. District staff said installing solar now will allow the district to capture roughly $2.2 million in rebates immediately, plus additional state incentives spread over coming years. Staff also said some maturing investments—approximately $3.5 million—were redirected into short-term instruments to provide liquidity for projects and that the district anticipates the solar investment will generate a higher return than those short-term rates.
"It is our recommendation that we proceed with the entire project as presented," said Michael Shepherd, the district staff member who presented the proposal.
Board members praised the proposal as a cost-saving measure. Board discussion included confirmation that Allied Facility Partners will bill the roof work separately to ensure proper accounting and that the district's auditors will advise how the rebates are recorded once received.
The motion to approve the Allied Facilities solar contract and the Cary Junior High roof replacement passed on a voice roll call with all seven board members voting yes.
Next steps identified by staff include posting project materials and charts on the district web page and coordinating accounting guidance with the district auditor as rebates are received.
