PIGEON - They made their debut in 2006, but the 65-kilowatt wind turbines at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Elementary won’t be part of the school landscape for much longer, as the board of education recently voted to have the two remaining turbines torn down.
The decision was made at a recent board meeting after discussion regarding how to handle an unfortunate situation that led to the two remaining turbines no longer operating. The third turbine had been disassembled a few years ago. Part of that turbine remains on the campus.
According to Superintendent Bob Smith, the connection breakage was thought to have been caused by some digging activity that took place in the area, but this has not been proven. Smith said it would cost at least $20,000 to search for a break that may or may not exist. Running a new fiber line from Pigeon to the campus would cost even more. Smith said because of the age of the turbines (about 30 years old) and “uncertain maintenance,” he recommended the turbines be taken down and sold for parts. He said the district could make anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 in the sale of the wind turbine parts.
When the three turbines were all in operation, they produced about 80 percent of the annual demand at the school.
A date for the disassembling of the two remaining turbines has yet to be determined.
The board then discussed the future of the superintendent house, which now is being occupied by teacher Stephanie Segroves, her husband, and two foreign exchange students who came to Lakers through the International Student Exchange program. Having two foreign exchange students live at the residence brings in about $14,500 in revenue to the district, Smith said. In addition, it’s a benefit to have a staff member live in the home for security reasons. He said keeping this program is preferable to renting out the house to someone unassociated with the school.
A long-term plan for the superintendent house will be created this school year, Smith said, but for now, having Segroves live there, along with the foreign exchange students, is the most viable option. No action was taken on this matter at the recent meeting.
Also during the meeting, the board adopted a resolution to refinance the 2000 elementary bond, bringing the interest rate from 4.3 percent to between 2 and 3 percent. This will save taxpayers about $550,000 over 10 years, Smith said.
The board also ratified two contracts – one for administrative staff (which covers seven people) and one for food service (which covers five people). The administrative staff will receive a 1 percent raise, as will the food service staff. The food service contract also will include the addition of single subscriber dental insurance, which is available to other groups.
In other matters brought before the board, Secondary School Principal Brian Keim talked about the Laker Legacy Fund and the future implementation of a Laker Legacy Foundation. The Laker Legacy Fund is for anyone who sees a need at the school and wishes to donate so that need can be fulfilled. The donation would be tax deductible, Keim said. The Laker Legacy Foundation would be operated by a board of community members that would decide how donated funds would be spent. This would be for projects beyond the sinking fund and the technology bond, Keim noted.
Anyone interested in donating to the Laker Legacy Fund or being a part of the Laker Legacy Foundation should call the Laker Secondary School office at (989) 453-4600 option 1.