Central Union trustees approve SiteLogic energy agreement; district links solar plan to aquatic center funding

Central Union High School District trustees on Oct. 14 approved a letter of agreement with SiteLogic to design and develop on-site renewable energy and energy-conservation measures across district facilities, a vendor representative told the board.

SiteLogic account executive Nick Eddy said the design-build program would cover rooftop and parking-lot arrays, lighting retrofits and building controls and that the district could capture federal and state incentives that reduce up-front cost. "We have to be in construction by 07/03/2026," Eddy said, noting a federal “safe-harbor” deadline tied to Inflation Reduction Act funding.

The presentation, led by SiteLogic staff and district construction staff, included preliminary array layouts for Southwest High School, Central Union High and the district transportation yard. SiteLogic’s preliminary estimate showed about $730,000 in first-year utility savings from the arrays presented: roughly $460,000 at Southwest, $240,000 at Central and about $30,000 at the transportation yard. The vendor said the district would receive a direct federal payment (the IRA provision) equal to roughly 50% of eligible project costs, reduced to about 42.5% if the district finances the work.

District and vendor presenters also tied the energy plan to funding for the district's proposed aquatic center at Southwest. Architect and facilities staff said a photovoltaic shade structure required by California green-code rules for that project would cost about $800,000; SiteLogic representatives said that cost could be credited into the larger district energy program so that the aquatic-center photovoltaic need would be met as part of the districtwide installation.

Trustees approved the letter of agreement after the presentation. The board took a single motion to authorize development of the program; the vote was recorded in the meeting as unanimous. Trustees discussed student-education opportunities tied to the arrays; a trustee asked the district to ensure a student curriculum or hands-on program is available if the project moves forward.

In addition to approving the SiteLogic LOA, trustees handled routine and personnel business during the meeting. The board approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda without roll-call dissent, approved the October personnel report, adopted a memorandum of understanding with the El Centro Secondary Teachers Association and adopted a red-ribbon week proclamation. The board also adopted a second reading of proposed revisions to board policy and administrative regulations (including posting opt-out forms on the district website) and approved the LOA with SiteLogic by motion, second and a unanimous voice vote.

The meeting’s closed-session report included one formal action: the board "voted unanimously to take disciplinary action regarding a classified employee on a motion by Trustee Eller and a second by Trustee Espinosa," the board chair reported after the closed session.

Next steps for the SiteLogic work include an investment-grade audit and more detailed layout work on each campus; presenters said the district will receive a binding cost estimate and final array locations before construction. The vendor and district staff emphasized the project timeline tied to federal incentives and said board review and contracts will return to the board for final approval.