Rappahannock County Public Schools News, August 18, 2008
From Robert Chappell, School Superintendent
RCPS Explores “Performance Contracting” as Option to Pay for More Than $1.1 Million in Proposed Energy Upgrades to School Facilities:
On August 12 the School Board approved a long-range Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that contained all the “high cost” energy-saving recommendations made by the 2005 Savings Through Energy Management (STEM) audit. A STEM expert trained RCPS Teachers Beth Gall, Ron Vickers, and five students to conduct the audit. Architect John Mather added several items to the CIP in May 2008.
Examples of some of the items in the CIP Estimated Annual “Avoided Energy Costs”
|
Mather Architects recommendation- Replace all 1960s-era pneumatic heating system controls with digital controls |
$50,000 |
State: 15-35% “Avoided Energy Costs” Could Pay Construction Bill for Energy Upgrades
A representative of the Virginia Department of Energy met with school officials and estimated the RCPS could save anywhere from 15-35% in electricity and fuel oil bills and suggested the RCPS consider the State’s regulated “Performance Contracting” process to achieve energy upgrades to RCPS facilities. The State’s Energy Dept. representative, Charlie Barksdale, said: “If you use the Performance Contracting process to make your facilities more energy efficient, an Energy Service Company (ESCO) could guarantee you savings on your electricity and fuel oil bills. Those guaranteed savings or ‘Avoided Energy Costs’ would be used to make the annual loan payments to pay for the upgrades. If the actual savings are less than the ‘guaranteed savings,’ the ESCO has to write you a check for the difference. ESCOs wrote several checks to Virginia localities last year.”
On August 12 the School Board voted to invite several ESCOS from the State contract list to provide free energy audits this fall. In September the Board will ask the Board of Supervisors to consider financing a Performance Contract with an ESCO to do the energy upgrades with a VA Resources Authority low-interest loan (typically 12-15 year loan, but can be 20 years). Again, the loan is paid off with the energy savings guaranteed by the ESCO and does NOT require additional local funding. If we don’t save as much as anticipated, the ESCO writes us a check for the difference. A selection committee of the School Board may select one ESCO to do an in-depth energy audit in the spring. The Board could sign a contract to begin the energy upgrades as early as next summer.
RCPS Agrees to House Head-Start Program at RCES; Gets School Bus Worth Estimated $50,000 in Exchange for Transporting Head-Start Students:
Special Services Director Mike Tupper convinced Supt. Bob Chappell that allowing Head-Start to use a classroom at RCES was best for both RCPS and Head-Start children. Principal Carol Johnson agreed to make one of the primary wing classrooms available, so Chappell proceeded to negotiate a contract with Head-Start to make it possible for up to 18 Rappahannock resident pre-school children to go to RCES. The School Board approved the contract on Aug. 12. “We said to the Head-Start people ‘Instead of Head-Start paying for a bus driver, fuel, and maintenance on a bus, we’ll agree to transport your kids on our existing routes if you’ll transfer ownership of your bus to the RCPS.’ ” The 16-passenger bus will be used to save fuel costs for field trips and athletic trips for groups too big for a car and not big enough to warrant a 64-passenger bus. The bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift and will be used as a back-up for the existing wheelchair lift bus, according to Chappell. “We’ll be able to sell our 1990-vintage wheelchair lift bus and the companion 1990 bus kept for parts,” said Chappell. “This is a very good deal for us, Rappahannock Taxpayers, and especially for the children.”
Panther Football Goes Independent; Defeats Quantico HS in Scrimmage:
In its first contest since leaving the Bull Run District to play an independent school schedule, the Panther Football Team outclassed a solid Quantico Marine Base HS team on August 15. In the controlled scrimmage both teams played four sets of ten plays from scrimmage. The Panther defense shutout the visitors while the offense racked up three TDs. The Panthers – under new head coach Bob Czekaj - play their first home game this Saturday, August 23rd at 4:00 vs. Clear Spring High School. The Award-winning Panther Marching Band – under new Director David DeBoer – will perform at the game. The Cheerleaders – under new coach Melanie Torrance – will also perform at the game. Torrance hopes to return the Panther Cheerleading squad to the VHSL Competition Cheer State Championships.
RCPS Events (subject to change) August:
August Dates
Call for appointment for new student registrations at RCES - 987-8259; RCHS 987-8575. 18th - All Employees Report for Continental Breakfast and Convocation Meeting at RCHS 8:30 followed by Benefits Fair from approximately 10 – 11:30
20th – Bus Drivers Meeting 5:00 PM; Kindergarten Orientation 6:30 PM; 8th Grade Orientation 7:00 PM
21st - Meet the Teacher Night 2:00-5:00 and 6:00 - 8:00
25th - First Day of School; Office hours on days school is in session: SBO 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM; School Offices 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
August Athletic / Band Schedule
11th –22nd - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Band Camp
20th - 6:00 pm Varsity/JV Volleyball home vs. Eastern View HS
22nd - 6:00 pm Varsity/JV Volleyball at Warren County
23rd - 4:00 pm Varsity Football vs. Clear Spring High School; Marching Band performs at game
29th - 7:30 pm Varsity Football at East Hardy High School
NOTE: Due to insufficient student sign-ups for the Golf team, all Golf events have been canceled.
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Bob Chappell, Superintendent
Rappahannock County Public Schools
School Board Office - 6 Schoolhouse Road
Washington, Virginia 22747
Telephone (540) 987-8773
FAX (540) 987-8896
Email: rchappell@rappahannock.k12.va.us
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