Rockingham County Schools awarded $300,000 DOE grant; eligible to pursue up to $7.8 million pending community plan and cost share

Rockingham County Schools announced Aug. 6 that it has been awarded $300,000 through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Renew America Schools program and is eligible to move to subsequent phases that could unlock up to $7.8 million for energy-efficiency projects, provided the district completes a community strategic plan and meets cost‑share requirements.

Superintendent Dr. Stover described the award as "hot off the presses" and said the district is one of about 16 single‑district awardees. "We were kind of like the dog that caught the car," he said, describing the district’s surprise at receiving the grant. The initial prize of $300,000 places the district in a cohort that can move into phase 2 (strategic planning and energy audits) and phase 3 (capital investment), contingent on meeting federal requirements.

Representatives from Johnson Controls, the district’s ESCO partner for the application process, described how 12 Rockingham schools qualified under the federal disadvantaged‑community criteria used in the DOE selection. Johnson Controls explained the next steps: an ASHRAE Level‑2 investment‑grade audit as part of phase 2, development of a community action plan that must include county and municipal partners, and federal oversight similar to other federally funded school programs.

Cost-share requirements were a focus of board questions. Stover and Johnson Controls explained that while there is a 5% cost share to access certain phases and a 25% cost share for larger capital awards, cost share can include in‑kind contributions (salaries, facilities, donations) and planned local projects rather than requiring new cash resources from a single source. "We can use salaries, facilities, donations, in‑kind support — things that are already part of our plan — to meet the cost share," Stover said.

Board members raised concerns that the facilities committee and county commissioners were not engaged earlier in the grant process. Several members said they learned about the award alongside the public. District leaders acknowledged the surprise and said they will increase coordination, meet with commissioners, and involve stakeholders in the strategic‑plan process. The DOE timeline for phase 2 was described as variable but likely to require work within roughly 60–120 days after notification; Johnson Controls and the Department of Energy will provide technical oversight.

The district emphasized the grant’s potential to accelerate infrastructure improvements (HVAC, windows, energy management) and to integrate workforce and CTE opportunities by pairing projects with workforce training programs and minority‑owned contractors where possible. No binding financial commitments beyond the cost‑share rules were approved at the meeting; staff said they will return with details and a community engagement schedule.