Hanover Area School District opens energy-efficiency bids, tables award while board reviews solar study and finances

Hanover Area School District Board of Education opened bids for a guaranteed energy savings project but tabled awarding a contract at its Jan. 21, 2025, regular meeting, citing the need for additional review by the board and the district solicitor.

The move follows Superintendent Barrettreport that the districtpays about $600,000 a year for electricity across five buildings and a district analysis indicating rooftop solar could cut the high school's electricity costs by about 87 percent. "We are moving towards a solar for schools program," Superintendent Barrett said during the meeting, describing the effort as a grant-backed initiative the district is pursuing to reduce taxpayer expense.

Why it matters: the board heard that savings from solar and a broader guaranteed-energy-savings contract could materially reduce annual operating costs. The superintendent also reported an annual financial statement showing the district finished the year about $1.2 million in surplus.

What the board did: the district publicly opened three bid packages but did not award a contract. The three identified bidders were McCourt Company, 10 Energy and CM3. Board members agreed the proposals are voluminous and should be reviewed in detail; formal action on a contract was deferred to a future meeting after solicitor review and distribution of the proposals to board members.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes and reports (regular meeting minutes of 12/10/2024; Luzerne Intermediate Unit minutes of 11/20/2024; Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center joint operating committee minutes of 12/16/2024). Motion by Mr. McDermott; second by Mr. Holmgren. Vote: ayes announced; motion passed.

- Financial recommendations (items 1—6). Motion by Mr. Holmgren; second by Mr. McDermott. Roll-call votes recorded in the meeting show a majority in favor; Dr. Kopko said she would vote no on item 4 (calling it a semantic/formality issue) but indicated support for items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. The board approved items 1—6.

- Personnel recommendations (items 1—5). Motion by Mr. McDermott; second by Mr. Majer. Vote: passed.

- Personnel item 6 (superintendent recommendation): the board approved a personnel appointment at "step B" with an annual salary of $153,768, effective immediately. The meeting transcript identifies the salary and that the superintendent recommended the appointment; the motion and second were called during the meeting and the item passed by roll call.

What was tabled: the district opened bid packages for a guaranteed energy-savings contract but did not select a contractor. Board members said the packages are too voluminous to review at the meeting and requested copies for review; the board agreed further formal action would be placed on a future agenda after solicitor review.

Context and next steps: board members said the district will provide the bid documents to trustees and the solicitor for review and consider formal award at a subsequent scheduled meeting. Superintendent Barrett also said the district will host an evening presentation to highlight capital and operational improvements, including work on an elementary center and other cost-saving measures.

Meeting logistics: trustees set their February work session and regular meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.

Ending note: the board emphasized review and solicitor input before any final contract award, and several routine financial and personnel actions were approved during the Jan. 21 meeting.