FORT FRANCES—The Rainy River District Schoo Board on Tuesday night approved a $2.5-million Energy Retrofit and Renewal Program with Honeywell Inc.
“We wanted more than an energy retrofit program. We wanted to create an improved classroom environment so they are truly good places to learn,” said Raymond Roy, the board’s superintendent of plant operations.
As first reported in the Times last month, Honeywell was commissioned in April to do a study of the board’s schools and come up with a plan to improve both energy efficiency and the students’ learning environment.
In its report, Honeywell identified about 240 measures, including replacing light fixtures, replacing boilers and pipes, weather stripping, and installing air handling units with carbon dioxide sensors, among many others.
The cost of the 10-year program is fixed at $2,534,118 plus GST.
Honeywell guarantees an annual savings of $162,473 in energy costs over the 10 years.
“The board is getting good value with this project, and I certainly recommend moving forward with it,” Roy said prior to the vote.
The project was reviewed at a finance committee meeting last month and committee members recommended the board sign on to the project. But they agreed to hold off on a recommendation on how to finance it.
About $900,000 of the $2.5-million cost would be covered by the provincial Good Places to Learn grant while another $582,773 would come from School Renewal Funding.
The local board would have to finance the remaining $1.1 million. That money could come from the board’s existing reserves or through external financing.
Superintendent of Business Laura Mills said the board either could obtain financing over the 10-year period, or pay it off at once with working fund reserves.
The second option is dependent on the results of the board’s audited financial statements, which are expected next week.
Prior to Tuesday night’s meeting, Fort Frances trustee Dan Belluz was acclaimed as the new chair of the public school board while Atikokan trustee Judy Eluik was acclaimed as vice-chair.
“Thank you, trustees, for your confidence,” Belluz said afterwards.
Since it was the board’s inaugural meeting following last month’s election, the trustees also made their declarations and oaths of allegiance.
New faces around the board table this year include Fort Frances trustee Donna Dittaro and La Vallee/Alberton trustee Glenda Belluz. They are taking the places of Gord McBride and Martin Darrah, respectively, who did not seek re-election.
Rounding out the board are former chair Ron McAlister (Rainy River) and former vice-chair Margaret Heyens (Emo).
Gary Allen was appointed as the new First Nations representative, replacing Jim Leonard, while Jenna Nowak continues to be the student trustee.
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, the local public board recognized staff and students at J.W. Walker School for their “Connecting to Afghanistan” project, where students had the chance to speak directly to a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan through videoconferencing last month.
“This was one of the more powerful things I’ve seen in education,” said Walker principal Bill Daley.
“This was an opportunity for kids to connect with their global community, and to a real soldier. And it happened right in the classroom,” echoed Mary-Lynne Bondett, a teacher a Walker and aunt to Cpl. Andrew Mcleod, the soldier who spoke to the students.
Many students at the school have been writing letters to Cpl. Mcleod since the videoconference, and three of them read their letters to the board last night.
“I guess we came to realize in lots of ways Cpl. Mcleod is just like us, only he’s in Afghanistan trying to make the world a better place,” said Grade 8 student Courtney Armstrong.
Daley said the school now is trying to set up similar videoconferences with Canadian soldiers in other parts of the world through the Department of National Defence.
As reported last week, the board also is offering the use of its videoconferencing equipment to the public from Dec. 18-22 so district residents may connect with family members stationed abroad prior to Christmas.
In his monthly report to the board, Education Director Jack McMaster noted Indian and Northern Affairs recently had announced cuts to its special education funding.
“We are extremely concerned with this issue,” McMaster said. “The kids under tuition agreements deserve the same support [as other students].”
The board is working with the government to find strategies to deal with the funding shortfall, McMaster noted.
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, the board:
•recognized the work of custodial and maintenance staff in its monthly REACH program;
•noted changes to the student trustee policy allowing student trustees the right to vote (the policy has been approved for stakeholder consultation); and
•heard a report on the latest initiatives of the Student Success Program, which is designed to address the dropout rate.
The board’s next meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at Robert Moore School.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
