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Suffield Board approves separate photovoltaic grant application, OKs roof and solar specs
Summary
At a March 9 special meeting the Suffield Board of Education approved educational specifications for a partial roof replacement and for a photovoltaic system at Suffield High School, and authorized seeking a separate state Building Grant for the solar work to preserve grant eligibility after a change in state guidance.
The Suffield Board of Education at a March 9 special meeting held via Zoom approved separate educational specifications for a partial roof replacement and for a photovoltaic (PV) system at Suffield High School and authorized submission of a state Building Grant application for the solar work.
Board members took the steps after Superintendent Matt Dunbar and Business Manager Eric Remington said the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services had recently indicated roofing projects that include photovoltaic components may need to be treated as separate projects for state grant purposes. The board moved to separate the roof and PV portions so the district would retain eligibility and avoid delays to the project timeline.
The board approved Motion #26-50 to adopt the Educational Specifications dated Feb. 26, 2026 for the partial roof replacement; James Mol moved and Sam Toskin seconded the motion, which passed 6-0-0. The board then approved Motion #26-51, moved by Mol and seconded by Debra Dudack, to adopt the Educational Specifications dated Feb. 26, 2026 for the photovoltaic system; that vote also passed 6-0-0.
Business Manager Eric Remington told the board the district had approved the overall roof project previously in December and that a separate resolution would permit a distinct application to the Department of Administrative Services for the PV system. Board members raised questions about whether separating the projects could affect the construction timeline and about how reimbursement would be handled; Mr. Remington described separate submission as allowing the district to preserve grant eligibility and indicated the district would work through reimbursement details with DAS.
In Motion #26-52 (Mol moved, Dudack seconded) the board approved submitting a state Building Grant application to the Department of Administrative Services for construction and installation of the photovoltaic system; the motion passed 6-0-0. The board also approved Motion #26-53 (Mol/Finnigan) to appoint the town's Permanent Building Commission as the Building Committee for the PV project; board members questioned whether the commission should include Board of Education representation, and Mr. Remington said that appointing the Permanent Building Commission is standard procedure under the town charter and that the district works with the committee through the process. That motion passed 6-0-0.
Later in the meeting the board approved Motion #26-54 asking the Board of Selectmen to authorize the Board of Education to apply to the Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, to authorize schematic drawings and outline specifications, and to appoint the Permanent Building Commission as the building committee for the PV project. The board adopted an amendment in Motion #26-55 and then, after Brian Fry joined the meeting at 12:20 p.m., approved Motion #26-56 authorizing Superintendent Matt Dunbar, if necessary, to request the Selectmen's authorizations; Motion #26-56 passed 7-0-0.
The meeting ended with a unanimous adjournment at 12:24 p.m. Minutes are subject to approval at the board's regular meeting on April 6, 2026.
