By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The roof on Hoisington's Roosevelt Elementary School needs replaced. Superintendent Patrick Crowdis is searching for ways to complete the work in a way the best benefits the district. Monday night, he informed the USD 431 Board of Education he was beginning talks with Illinois-based GRP Wegman about the possible installation of solar panels.
"GRP comes out and does a detailed analysis of the district, our electrical rates, and whether or not this would be beneficial to the district to even explore," he said. "After they do that, they then start the process of coming and communicating with the board in a more detailed way."
Crowdis said GRP Wegman has worked with Greenbush over the past 12 months. Greenbush is a service center used by school districts for professional development and cooperative purchasing agreements. At this time, USD 431 would not have to pay any money to GRP Wegman for any studies.
"No money comes out of the district until they flip the switch and the solar array becomes active," said Crowdis. "That is one of the things Greenbush emphasized. They wanted to take the risk off the district."
Crowdis said GRP's current model is to put solar arrays on a roof. By tying in a solar project with the roof replacement, the district may be able to access federal grant funds and save money from electricity generated by the panels. Monday's agenda item did not require action from the board, and Crowdis will continue to update the board as the project progresses.