Advertisement “It will restore this building to the way it was intended to look while accomplishing energy savings,” Superintendent John Burnett said. “The north wall will look like it’s all glass again.”
It’s a comfort issue for high school students. “I’m looking forward to kids being warm,” said OHS Principal Pete Woerpel. “They are wearing mittens at times.”
There’s more from the half-million dollar program. The high school’s old heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system will be updated. “We will be replacing equipment at or near the end of its life expectancy,” said Dan Dahlquist, school district buildings and grounds director.
Consulting engineer Tom Mulrine told Onalaska Board of Education members at their Monday meeting the project would replace old equipment and help remedy HVAC problems in the school. “With the window project, it is a perfect time to do this,” Mulrine said.
Equipment being replaced was installed as long ago as 1960. It is among the oldest HVAC equipment in the school district, Mulrine said.
There’s still significant work to be done, according to Burnett. He said the district will “peck away at it” as money becomes available.
“The least expensive time to do it is now when the (no interest) money is available,” Mulrine noted.
Money comes from the state and will benefit investors that need a tax credit. It must be paid back in 10 years. Onalaska was allowed up to $500,000. District Finance Director Larry Dalton said there’s a chance of getting more of the interest-free money next year. Further HVAC and energy efficiency projects would get the money.
The projects and borrowing were approved by the school board.
Energy savings
The school district’s energy management program has saved it $746,986 in three years, according to a report to the school board by “energy czar” Doug Hauser. That’s nearly one-third of what the district would have spent without its energy management program.
Computer projections showed the district spending more than $2.4 million without the program. The schools actually spent about $1.7 million.
“I consider it good news,” Hauser said.
The program relies on behavior changes such as turning out lights in unoccupied areas, training and support in energy education — often for building custodians — and reduction in equipment run times.
Hauser predicts net savings could be more than $3 million in the 10-year period ending in 2016. “We can do a lot with the money we are not spending on energy,” he said.
“Mr. Hauser leaves reminders to the staff when he spots places for improvement so our energy costs are down but our Post-It note expense is up,” Burnett joked.
Bike tour proceeds
The more than 400 bicycle riders participating in last June’s Minds in Motion bicycle tour contributed to the good health of Onalaska school children. Event co-chair Colleen Dixon gave the school board $8,750 that will go to the District Fit Kids Living Healthy Program.
“Without Minds In Motion this program would not exist,” Curriculum Director Fran Finco said. “It puts 30 more kids on bikes.”
The District Fit Kids Living Healthy Program will include a small fleet of bikes to be used in middle school and high school lifelong activities programs. Money will also go to elementary school fitness obstacle courses.
WTA ranking
Onalaska continues to look good in the eyes of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. “School Facts ’09” ranks the district low in costs while fairly high academically when compared with other Wisconsin n and area n schools.
For instance, Onalaska spends $10,464 per student, area schools spend about $12,011 per student and the state average is $11,730 per student. “We tend to be lower than the districts around us,” Dalton said.
Of particular note is the tax rate. Onalaska ranks 45th lowest in taxes out of nearly 400 state school districts.
People
Betty Reed was hired as a 4K paraprofessional at Eagle Bluff Elementary. Tricia Long transferred to LD/ED paraprofessional at Northern Hills.
Co-curricular contracts were OK’d for Jason Church and Thomas Makens, boys varsity hockey assistant coaches, and Morgan Hanson, assistant girls gymnastics coach.
