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ISD 622 highlights construction work, solar expansion and $1.1M grant for electric buses
Summary
Operations staff reported Harmony Learning Center is ~65% complete, the district won a $1.1 million Minnesota Department of Commerce grant to add three electric buses (with about 85% of infrastructure costs covered), and a phased solar rollout aims to place rooftop arrays on 12 buildings by 2027 with an estimated first-year savings of about $85,000.
The district’s operations presenter reviewed summer construction and sustainability work, saying the Harmony Learning Center project is about 65% complete and several deferred-maintenance projects—including playground and parking-lot work—were finished this summer.
Operations told the board the district received a $1,100,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce to support electric school buses; three buses are planned to arrive in 2026. “This grant ... actually is paying for 85% of the infrastructure as well,” the presenter said, describing coverage of charging stations, conduit and electrical panels. The district said it issued an RFP for bus procurement.
On renewable energy, the district described a phased solar program that will place arrays on three schools in phase 1 and expand to 12 buildings by 2027. District staff estimated about $85,000 in energy savings in the coming school year from the solar installations and said live dashboards will let students and the public track energy production.
Board members asked about battery performance in cold weather and range limitations for electric buses; operations said neighboring districts and vendors have tested buses in colder climates and noted the district’s typical routes average about 40–50 miles per day—compatible with mid-range electric bus deployment and daily return-to-garage charging. The presenter also said the district is expanding recycling pilots, replacing inefficient boilers, and using a B3 benchmarking system to track energy and water use across buildings.
Why it matters: The bus grant reduces upfront infrastructure costs and supports a shift to lower-emission transportation; solar and benchmarking efforts are intended to reduce operating costs over time and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students.
Next steps: District staff issued an RFP for electric buses and will continue to post construction open-house slideshows and energy dashboards on the district website.
