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School committee approves BCIS playground upgrade, authorizes solar letters of intent for three schools
Summary
The Barnstable School Committee unanimously approved a $50,000 first-phase playground upgrade at Barnstable Community Innovation School and authorized the superintendent to sign nonbinding letters of intent for solar power purchase agreements at Barnstable United Elementary, Barnstable Intermediate and Barnstable High School.
The Barnstable School Committee on March 4 approved a phased $50,000 first-step upgrade to the Barnstable Community Innovation School (BCIS) playground and authorized letters of intent for solar power purchase agreements at three district sites.
BCIS presented a plan to enlarge the enclosed play area (raising fence height from 4 to 6 feet), add a walking path, and pursue later additions such as an outdoor classroom and shade trees. The project's first phase carries an estimated cost of about $50,000 and the presenter said funds are available in the aftercare budget. "We have a $380,000 budget. What we're proposing is the first layer of this, which is for about $50,000," the BCIS speaker said. Committee members asked about equipment placement and confirmed the playground layout would retain the central play structure with fields on each side. A motion to approve the playground upgrade passed by voice vote.
On the energy front, the committee authorized the superintendent to sign three nonbinding letters of intent for power purchase agreements and parking-canopy solar projects at Barnstable United Elementary School (rooftop), Barnstable Intermediate School (parking-canopy), and Barnstable High School (parking-canopy). The presenter (identified in the meeting as Sean) said a conservative estimate of the immediate savings could be about $150,000 a year across the three sites under a PPA model, while noting larger savings would accrue if the district were to buy panels outright. The committee approved each authorization unanimously.
What this means: The BCIS playground work is funded from aftercare funds and will proceed as a district-authorized facility change. The solar LOIs are nonbinding authorizations to let the superintendent sign letters that allow developers to move into design and costing; the committee and staff noted the town's legal team has reviewed similar documents and developers would carry development/design costs under the PPA structure.
Next steps: Facilities staff and school leadership will move forward on final bids and scheduling for the BCIS playground work; the district will work with town legal and the superintendent to finalize letters of intent and proceed with design discussions for the solar PPA projects.
