School board looking to fill 2 vacancies
Vacancies were declared for two seats on the Holyoke School District Re-1J Board of Education at the Oct. 19 board meeting.
The board will be appointing two new members, with each to serve for two years until the next board election in 2023.
Those interested in being considered for appointment should pick up an application at the district administration building at 435 S. Morlan Ave. in Holyoke. Applications must be returned by 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12.
The board will interview some or all prospective candidates at the Tuesday, Nov. 16, board meeting.
To be eligible for a board seat, a candidate must be a registered elector of the school district for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the date of appointment. Further information can be obtained by calling District Administrative Director Brenda Krueger at 970-854-3634.
One vacancy occurred with the resignation of board member Chas Lengfelder, who will be moving out of the school district. His resignation was accepted at last week’s meeting.
The other vacancy occurred when there were only two candidates for three open seats on the board for the Nov. 2 election. Board member Pat Wiebers is term-limited, and it is her seat that will be vacant.
Schneider Electric gives close-out presentation
Schneider Electric’s Will Benish and Kelly Kemper attended last week’s board meeting, and John Stancliffe attended remotely to share a construction close-out presentation of the company’s energy performance savings program for the district.
The scope of work included evaluation and restoration of the mechanical system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as replacement of the existing building automation system at Holyoke JR/SR High.
Additionally, interior and exterior lighting was upgraded to LED in all buildings, including transportation.
Benish pointed out that the district is looking at an annual energy reduction of around 35% as a result of the project.
Total first-year savings are targeted at just over $83,000.
Contingency dollars were budgeted in the project and will cover the addition of mechanical pumps at the JR/SR high.
When all the work is completed, there will be a final construction walkthrough with the Schneider construction team and Holyoke school staff.
Remaining Colorado Energy Office contract documentation associated with the energy performance contract will be completed.
Then the measurement and verification process will begin with Holyoke’s assigned representative who will provide monthly reports, monitor savings and communicate with the district.
As requested by Superintendent Kyle Stumpf, Benish calculated a total of $27,350 spent for food and lodging in Holyoke during the project.
“We’re excited to see how our partnership continues in the near future,” Benish added.
Stumpf pointed out that Schneider Electric could have been done with the energy performance construction last winter, but they were willing to work with Howell/Wold in the Building Excellent Schools Today construction areas that overlapped.
Schneider Electric has completed numerous energy performance contracts in other states, but Holyoke’s is their flagship project in Colorado.
Benish may do a presentation at the upcoming Colorado Association of School Boards convention, and Holyoke board members noted they would be glad to voice support.
Stumpf pointed out that this project stands out for something that can make a difference in small rural districts in terms of energy cost savings.
Benish said that Schneider Electric will be doing stakeholder interviews, producing a post-project video, promoting further project awareness on social media and continuing to host the Earth Day celebration for Holyoke students next spring.
Other business
In other business at the Oct. 19 meeting, the school board:
— Held a 38-minute executive session with Stumpf at the end of the meeting for the superintendent evaluation.
— Noted that tours of the BEST project were given to just over 100 people Oct. 7-8, and a lot of good feedback was received.
— Heard from Budget and Finance Director Ben Rahe that first-quarter numbers, percentagewise, are running comparable to a year ago. The 2020-21 audit was completed Oct. 19, with a report to come soon.
— Learned from the Chartwells food services report that they are excited for the new warming kitchen that gives lots of space to help with all the options for students.
— Accepted four nonresident students from the Wray school district and also approved transportation requests for Luis Talamantes and Eli, Aly and Levi Gomez.
— Reviewed Colorado Association of School Boards policies on nondiscrimination/equal opportunity, equal educational opportunities, and admission and denial of admission.
— Approved second reading of policies that were presented Sept. 7 on support staff supplementary pay/overtime, school year/school calendar/instruction time, concurrent enrollment and parent engagement in education.