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School officials present draft $1M capital plan and $5M sustainability grant award, outline geothermal and solar work
Summary
District staff presented a draft capital plan (~$1,000,006.55) that prioritizes a high‑school skylight enclosure, camera replacements, doors, vans and phone/PA upgrades; officials also reported a $5 million sustainability award and next steps to test geothermal and install solar canopies.
District staff walked the committee through a draft capital plan and a separate sustainability award during the May 26 meeting, asking the committee to review proposals ahead of a June vote on the capital request.
The draft capital plan presented as systemwide "buckets" totaled about $1,000,006.55 and included an $800,000 request to enclose and repair a chronically leaking skylight at the high school, additional camera replacement funding (an incremental $100,000) for aging hardware, a cyclical program for door and floor repairs, purchase of two passenger vans (one electric, one gas) to support special-education runs, and a $150,000 move to replace the districts telephone and PA infrastructure as copper service phases out.
On sustainability, officials said the district was one of nine awardees from a competitive pool and will receive $5,000,000 to pursue projects such as geothermal heat pumps and solar canopies. Staff said the district has issued an RFQ to select a design and installation partner and will seek smaller testing grants to drill and verify geothermal feasibility at either East Falmouth or Tickle elementary sites. The presentation included a vendor-financing approach for solar canopies under which the vendor advances capital and the district pays a fixed electricity rate; presenters projected roughly $2 million in savings over 25 years for two canopy projects, subject to the contract.
Committee members asked about estimate variability, grant timing, and impacts on playground or field space during drilling. Staff answered that figures are estimates and that drilling and design work will clarify siting and scope; they emphasized the importance of listing projects on the capital plan even if all requests are not funded immediately.
The committee did not take a final vote on the capital plan; staff said an updated plan will return in June for a formal vote. The sustainability work will proceed with vendor selection and testing steps before design and installations.
