Elizabeth Bailey
After beginning work with Energy Education in December of 2008, Decatur County Community Schools has saved $226,189 on its utility bills.
Energy Education, representative Drew Rhodes explained, uses data from a base period prior to the beginning of the program in order to project energy costs for the corporation. With the work of coordinator Don Lewellen and assistance from building level custodians, the actual cost of utilities has been 43.6 percent less than the projected cost, Rhodes said.
For most corporations, he noted, the initial progress falls in the neighborhood of a 16 percent reduction. Decatur County has far exceeded this expectation.
“You have made blistering progress,” he said. “It is among the best in Indiana.”
In all, the schools have saved 1.43 million kilowatts (kW) of electricity, a commodity for which the price has risen 22.3 percent since the base period of Dec. 2007 to June 2008. The schools have also conserved 89,000 therms of natural gas. This adds up to a reduction of 1,031 metric tons of carbon dioxide. In order to make the same impact, 185 cars would have to be taken off of the roads for a year, Rhodes noted. This is the equivalent, he said, of planting 26,380 trees and letting them grow for 10 years.
“The level of success has been fantastic,” he said.
Glenn Gaines, president of the mid-America division for Energy Education, pointed out that saving money on energy enables the corporation to avoid some of the deep cuts taking place in other school systems. The $226,189 Decatur County Community Schools didn’t have to pay for energy can now be used on other costs, such as payroll or specific programs, he noted.
Of the approximately 40 clients Energy Education has in the state of Indiana, Decatur County, he said, truly stands out.
“This is the greatest start that I know of in my 15 years with the company,” he said.
As a result, the corporation was given the Energy Pacesetter Award in the form of a plaque. Lewellen noted that progress in the saving of energy will continue to be seen. New roofs on the elementary schools should reduce their energy costs, and there are other changes yet to be made that could bring the cost savings to an even higher level.
However, energy savings is not the only area in which Decatur County is setting the pace. Tom Judd, director of high school initiatives for Ivy Tech Community College, also reported on the tremendous progress that has been made in offering dual-credit courses in the county schools.
“You are leaders in the region,” he said.
At North, 258 students received 774 college credits, representing a potential cost savings to parents of $83,850. A total of nine different classes were offered. At South, 257 students received 825 college credits, representing a potential cost savings to parents of $88,655. A total of 10 different classes were offered.
Judd pointed out that as the cost of education continues to rise, dual-credit courses will play an increasingly important role for high school students. He commended the board and corporation faculty and staff for their support of the program.
Issues Decided at the July Meeting of the County Schools Board
-Milk bid from Prairy Farms accepted
-Bread bid from INterstate Brands accepted
-Retirement of Andy Honeycutt of South Decatur accepted, effective after 09-10 school year
-Contracts were approved for Doug Einhaus as Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at South, Jonathan Hudnall as techology assistant and Kristine Gross as a part time PE/health teacher at South
-Elementary roofs are on track for completion prior to the start of school
-Installation of fiber lines for broadband internet is on track for completion this week for North and within the next few weeks for South
-Bleacher repair at both North and South will cost $7,000 with materials from K-Fab and will lengthen their lives by two seasons
