Installing a solar panel canopy over the parking lot at Old Rochester Regional High School has proven to be more complicated than expected, Superintendent Doug White told the Old Rochester Regional School Committee on September 12.
The committee voted back on June 11 to authorize White to work with an attorney to review a 20-year contract with solar developer SunPower. White reported that the attorney had some reservations due to the fact that, as a regional school district, statute does not allow for a lease/contract for such a long length of time.
“That put a little bit of a stall in what we’re trying to do… because, if you were to do that, you’re putting the three towns in a liability,” said White.
The solution, he said, is to petition the state for special legislation to allow for the 20-year agreement, something White said he has already discussed with State Senator Marc Pacheco who has agreed to file on behalf of the ORR District. Once that special legislation is granted, White said the three towns would have to agree to allow the district to proceed with the contract.
In the meantime, a lengthy pause in the process would mean the district would likely see the ensuing 20-year guaranteed electricity rate increase, which would decrease the anticipated $2.9 million in net savings to the district over the 20 years. However, according to White, SunPower has offered to front the $7,500 application fee for state solar subsidies to keep the process moving forward to ensure the highest savings possible for the district. If the special legislation or approval from the towns falls through, said White, “We can step out of it.”
White specified that a vote that night would be to allow SunPower to file the application on the district’s behalf, not the approval of a signed contract with the developer. He said he was optimistic that the special legislation would be granted, given that the state often favors solar projects and regional projects.
Also during the meeting, the committee had a rather heated discussion over high school gymnasium rental fees for private sports organizations after the Old Rochester Travel Basketball Association’s (ORTBA) three-year contract expired, resulting in a $10,000 fee increase the association’s director thinks is unfair.
In 2015, the district and the association entered into a three-year agreement for a flat rental fee to increase by $500 each year, beginning with $6,500 and ending last year with $7,500. This year, the district billed the association under its standard $150 per hour rental fee, totaling $17,800.
“We need to think about how we adjust that… and really look at how the facility is utilized for what amount of time,” suggested White.
The $150 hourly fee breaks down into $100 for the space, and $50 for utilities. White commented that the rental fee policy was essentially based on the concept of a one-time use rental.
White suggested starting the conversation at $25 per hour – $20 for the space and $5 for utilities – a “reasonable place to be,” he said, but some committee members had reservations on such a low number.
Still, said committee member Paul Goulet, “Seventeen thousand, 800 [dollars] is absolutely asinine to charge a travel team… How are they going to afford that?”
School Committee member Heather Burke had examples of fees other schools charge, such as Somerset-Berkeley and Wareham that both charge $100 an hour. She said the policy subcommittee has been reviewing this policy as the topic arises.
“I’m not against charging,” Goulet said, “but $17,000…”
On behalf of the ORTBA, Greg Yeomans told the committee that he felt more like he was present to defend his case rather than as a “partner” with the school district, a position he would prefer.
“You’re coming at a very political moment,” said committee member Tina Rood, “and it’s not your fault, but we have been told consistently over the last nine months that taxpayers in the Tri-Town really only want to fund this facility for the school day and the school activities and they don’t really want to invest in the wear and tear of other groups…
“People who use it need to pay a fair share,” Rood continued. Perhaps not $17,800, she said, “But we need to keep the facilities up and we don’t have the funds in the capital budget to do that… It’s just the reality of how the district is funded.”
Rental fees go directly into the operating budget – something Rood said should cease in order to reinvest the funds to maintain the facilities.
ORTBA requested another three-year agreement with $500 incremental increases, but the committee was only comfortable granting a one-year $8,000 agreement for now until it can devise a “fair” rental fee for the group.
White interjected to caution the committee and said, although he appreciates the ORTBA partnership with the district, “Our budget cannot subsidize other programs. It’s not even covering the current cost of our own athletics program. Our own athletics program only has $160,000 in the budget – it costs us close to $400,000 for our own athletes and we have to be careful with the dollars that we have that it’s not subsidizing other programs without taking care of what our first obligation is.”
The discussion turned to adopting a policy to collect a one-time $100 fee per student to access all the clubs offered at ORR High School.
The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for October 23 at 6:30 pm in the ORRJHS media room.
Old Rochester Regional School Committee
By Jean Perry