North Pocono board approves bond resolution to fund solar panels, roof and lighting upgrades

The North Pocono School District Board of Education on Feb. 4 approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund a package of capital projects, including rooftop solar systems, roof repair or replacement and districtwide lighting upgrades. The motion passed by voice vote, recorded as 9–0.

The resolution described the financing as covering planning, acquisition, construction, installation, furnishing and equipping of district facilities, including rooftop solar systems, roof repair and replacement, and lighting replacement and upgrades, as well as capital equipment and costs of issuance (attachment C).

Two members of the public urged the board not to move forward. Cara Francis of Roaring Brook Township told the board she had read a newspaper report saying the district was considering borrowing up to $7,500,000 to install solar panels and fund infrastructure projects. ‘‘Simply stated, don’t move the solar project forward,’’ Francis said, arguing the project did not make financial sense for taxpayers and noting a reported $812,000 grant and an ‘‘inflation tax credit’’ cited in local coverage.

Parent Teresa Ripley raised separate concerns about solar technology’s durability in northeastern Pennsylvania and asserted environmental and health risks from panel components and batteries; she also objected to additional borrowing and urged the board to halt the project.

The board adopted the resolution after the presentation; no amendment to the bond authorization was recorded at the meeting. The resolution language on the record authorizes one or more series of general obligation bonds for the purposes stated and directs staff to proceed with the steps set out in the resolution.

What happens next: the adoption of the resolution authorizes the district to pursue bond issuance and related steps (advertising, bidding and sale) described in the resolution; the transcript did not specify a final bond amount, a repayment schedule or an implementation timeline. The record shows public opposition centered on cost and feasibility; no technical findings or third-party feasibility reports were presented aloud at this meeting.

Votes at the meeting on this item were recorded by voice as passing 9–0. The meeting did not include a detailed financial presentation of projected debt service or payback timelines in the spoken record.