TPS to install energy-saving lights, other features

Oct. 18—Tahlequah Public Schools Board of Education members, during a meeting Oct. 17, discussed ways they can save on energy costs and came up with some ideas..

Those with Energy Solutions Professional discussed their preliminary energy analysis fundings, and presented steps for creating an energy saving project. The analysis allowed for the energy company to see where the district could be saving money, which might include converting from fluorescent to dimmable LED lights. The improvements will be financed through loans and not grants.

"The financing has not been decided yet, but most likely we would take out a 10-year loan that you would do the improvement with," Jones said. "Then you are guaranteed to save enough in utility costs to offset the cost of the loan payment, so really it is just leveraging the money you already have, going out to actually putting in improvements into your buildings right now ,and using your own money and your own budget ... to make some improvements that are greatly needed."

The energy performance contracting agreement for dimmer and LED lights in all TPS classrooms and a investment grade audit for the systems other than lighting, with ESP, was accepted by the board. Jones was given authority as designee to enter into negotiations. Jones said the audit will help determine other energy saving avenues, such as the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

"The practical process of what we are doing is, the school district is borrowing money to pay upfront for this project, hopefully, with a local bank we don't have yet, but we will make loan payments until that is paid off with the savings we are guaranteed to recognize from the improvements here," said Chrissi Nimmo, Tahlequah School Board of Education president.

Jones announced the district received another U.S. Department of Justice grant, for $1 million for the next three years, which will enhance prevention and safety.

A transfer of $1,000 in funds was made from one Tahlequah Middle School account to the other. The transfer was due to the site's not having an activity account for its horticulture class yet.

Several pieces of surplus were approved for Tahlequah High School and Greenwood Elementary, as well as various supplemental service contracts from tutoring services to working the gate and/or concession stand for the athletic department.

The board approved a few quotes, including one for $17,754 to replace the condenser coils in a HVAC unit at Heritage Elementary, a Tahlequah Multi-Purpose Activities Center ice machine for a total of $2,460, and two swing sets for Heritage at $34,021, which was raised by the Parent-Teacher Organization.

The schedule of encumbrances featured the general fund, with $556,611.71, and the building fund with $29,407. The board also approved the 2023-'24 operational budget.

Settlement funds from Frantz Law Group APLC were accepted for the JUUL school district vaping lawsuit. The total amount received was about $7,000.

Brittany Bloodworth was approved to be responsible for the TPS box account with the U.S. Postal Service. Jones said this item on the agenda was just "cleaning house," as the district realized Bloodworth was not transferred to the account and Diane Adamson was still attached to it.

An agenda item discussed yearly, related to the recognition of academic credits, was accepted by the board. At the Tahlequah and Muskogee Indian Capital Technology Center campuses, several academic credits are recognized by TPS. Weighted lab math and science credits for AP physics and AP calculus in Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, and a weighted lab science credit labeled as anatomy, were included in the recognized credits.

The board made a revision to a graduation requirement policy, which Jones said will include an alternate diploma for students who are in the Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program. The revision is required by law.

"[It is for] special education students who would not have taken a regular assessment to graduate from high school. Because of their disability they would have done a portfolio assessment," Jones said.

The dates for the 2024 board of education meetings were approved, which will be the third Tuesday of each month, with the exception of July and October. The board discussed and allowed for a Board of Education Primary Election resolution. The election will be Feb. 13, 2024, when candidates will be vying for board position No. 4, which is TPS Board President Crissi Nimmo's seat.

What's next

The next Tahlequah Public Schools Board of Education meeting will take place Nov. 14 at the TPS Board of Education Office at 6 p.m.