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Board approves budget kickoff, policy review, solar PPA and major HVAC projects
Summary
The District 128 board approved a set of routine actions including the consent agenda, a budget preparation resolution, a 10‑year LHS safety survey, authorization for a 20‑year solar PPA with Forefront, replacement of the LHS main gym HVAC ($1,280,000), and purchase of pool HVAC equipment ($689,027). Board members sought contract protections and implementation details.
At its Dec. 15 meeting the District 128 Board of Education approved a slate of routine and capital items that the administration said will advance facilities renewal and energy strategy.
The board unanimously approved the consent vote agenda and a budget preparation resolution to begin the 2026 budget cycle. The board also approved the required 10‑year health and life‑safety survey for Libertyville High School, which staff said had priority A items already addressed and priority B items to be scheduled.
Dan Stanley, speaking for district facilities, described a proposed 20‑year power purchase agreement with Forefront Power to install solar panels on Vernon Hills High School roofs. "We anticipate...we'll save approximately 14,000 a year on Vernon Hills," Stanley said. He described the proposed system as roughly a 645‑kilowatt DC installation that would produce about 786,000 kilowatt‑hours annually; the board authorized administration to sign the energy service agreements pending final legal and superintendent approval. Board members asked about contractual protections for roof replacement, removal and maintenance costs; Stanley said those terms are part of the final negotiations.
The board also approved a turnkey replacement of the LHS main gym HVAC system. Stanley said an initial conservative estimate of $1.85 million was reduced after engineering; the final turnkey price is $1,280,000 with a $100,000 contingency to cover unforeseen conditions, and abatement work is required for insulating on two air‑handling units in the penthouse. "We tested everything...there is blanketing on 2 of the pieces of equipment in the penthouse that do contain asbestos, so we will have to do some abatement," a facilities representative said.
Separately, the board approved the purchase of HVAC equipment for the Vernon Hills pool from Trane for $689,027 (equipment only; installation will be bid separately). Staff noted the pool unit’s expected service life at 20–25 years and said this purchase is part of a matching grant project.
Motions for these items passed by roll call with all voting members recorded as "Aye." Board members asked administration to return with more detailed multi‑year capital projections during the budget process and to ensure contract language protects the district from unexpected labor or replacement costs related to roof and panel work.
