By Trent Moore

Staff Writer

Funding for the $5.85 million second phase of installations for energy efficient heating and air conditioner (HVAC) equipment and lighting equipment for Cullman county schools has been secured and approved by the school board.

The project, which has a total price tag of $13 million, is being handled by Chevron Energy Solutions. Plans call for 235 new HVAC units and energy-efficient lighting to be installed at every county school. The work is slated for completion in early June.

The Cullman County Board of Education recently approved plans to fund the $5.85 million final phase of work with a loan from Peoples Bank of North Alabama.

“It’s a local bank, so it’s good for the community,” Superintendent Hank Allen said at the board’s March 19 meeting.

The board passed a resolution on Feb. 13 to go ahead with the second phase of work, though wording in the resolution recommended the system use a certain financing company. The board voted unanimously to rescind the previous resolution, which has been replaced with the new resolution listing People’s Bank as the lender.

“So there is no confusion, we wanted to rescind that,” Allen said.

He added the decision to go with People’s Bank was to save money, as the system was given a 5.45 percent interest rate on the loan.

“We’re able to get a better rate this way,” he said. “We wanted to shop around and find the best interest rate. The better interest rate should save us in the long run.”

Essentially all of the new HVAC equipment has been installed and is functioning, Allen said, and the coming months will be used to finish aesthetic and lighting work.

The project was funded in two different payments to ensure it would be bank qualified with a better interest rate, which would not have been possible had the school borrowed the $13 million lump sum in one calendar year, Chevron Representative Neal Turner said in a previous interview.

Allen said the financing details for the $5.85 million have yet to be finalized.

The school board plans to pay for the equipment with funds that will be saved in future utility bills.

“I still think this is the right move for the system,” Allen said.

Allen estimated that the entire project should be finished by early June, though the work as a whole has taken longer to complete than the school board had anticipated.

The board had originally hoped the majority of installations would be finished before the start of the 2008-2009 school year. That did not happen, and HVAC units were still being installed well into the first few months of classes, with Chevron employees working in the evenings and after-school to finish.

To ensure energy savings with the new equipment, control of the heating and air for the entire system is centralized and controlled in one place — though minor adjustments can be made to the centralized schedule if a teacher wants to stay late, or feels their room is too cold or hot.

The system will be monitored to keep the settings within pre-set parameters, which are meant to ensure the level of savings to pay for the system are met.

The board also:

‰ Presented the results of the 2008-2009 superintendent evaluation, conducted by Dr. Neil Hyche, state PEPE evaluator. Hyche said Allen was “above average” in his performance of duties.

‰ Approved the Feb. 23 and March 10 meeting minutes.

‰ Approved the resignations of Harmony School librarian Misty Buerhaus.

‰ Approved the resignation of Holly Pond Middle School football and basketball cheerleading coach Shawna Finley.

‰ Approved leaves of absence for Hanceville High School teacher Jeane Dodd.

‰ Approved the transfer of Holly Pond Elementary School physical education Sherry Chaney to physical education teacher at Holly Pond Middle School and high school.

‰ Approved the appointment of Kristen Jochum, physical education aide at Holly Pond Elementary School.

‰ Approved the appointment of Gary Graves as Hanceville High School science teacher.

‰ Approved the appointment of Kayla Lindley, seventh grade language arts teacher at West Point Middle School.

‰ Approved the appointment of substitutes: Haley Batemon, Lea Scott and Lamanda Tidwell.

‰ Approved the appointment of nurse Misha Race.

‰ Approved the contract change of DeLan Trimble, upgrade to AA.

‰ Approved out-of-state field trip requests for three C.A.R.E. (Alternative Program) students to visit the 20th Annual Service-Learning Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

‰ Fairview High School Explorers Club to visit Washington, D.C. on May 23 - 28.

‰ Approved an out-of-state field trip request from Holly Pond High School for the band to visit Atlanta, Ga to tour the aquarium, Coca-Cola Museum and Six Flags.

‰ Approved the 2008-2009 local schools textbook committee: Lynn Bradford, Teresa Young, Trina Walker, Terry Michael, Teresa Presto, Margaret Guthrie, Suzy Roberts, Cantrice Voce, Pam Couch, Shawna Koch, Janice Adams, Connie Hilton, Pat Laney, Derrick Waddell, Kim Wood, Kim Harbison, Charlene White, Keri Briscoe, Deborah Penn, Shane Barnette, Vickie Skelley, Vickie Alldredge, Sharon Weinman, Vicki Johnson, Betsy McLeroy and Melba Wiegand.

‰ Approved 2008-2009 language arts and career technology textbook adoption.

‰ Approved summer school 2009 procedures and grading system.

‰ Approved summer school to be held at Hanceville Middle School and Hanceville High School, with the first semester from June 1 – 12, the second semester from June 15 – 26.

‰ Approved a request from C.A.R.E. (Alternative Program) to dispose of old computers from the DROP program.

‰ Recognized Holly Pond High School teacher Tracy Adams for earning National Board Certification. She is entitled to an annual $5,000 salary supplement and a one-time only classroom bonus.

‰ Announced the next board meeting for April 23, at 6:30 p.m., to be held at the central office.

‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.