News/Press

Commercial-Express
January 2, 2010

Schoolcraft schools trims $50K from budget

BY GAIL SECORD
Special to Commercial-Express

SCHOOLCRAFT -- Energy savings has emerged as a bright spot on the financial horizon for Schoolcraft Community Schools.

The district's financial manager, Rita Broekema, says reduced energy use is one of several areas that has allowed her to trim about $50,000 from this year's budget. She presented a revised budget for the 2009-10 school year at the Board of Education's Dec. 22 meeting.

``This is more aggressive than what I've presented to you in the past,'' she said of the new budget.

The budget reflects the $165-per-pupil cut in funding handed down from the state; another cut of $127 per student that had been a possibility for January will now be postponed until the 2010-11 school year.

Broekema said none of the cuts will affect classrooms or students. Staff is aware that the budget will cover needs only, she says, adding that needs are narrowly defined at this difficult time. The budget passed unanimously.

The board also heard the first report from Energy Education Inc., which is working with a number of school districts in Kalamazoo County to help curb their energy waste. Dave Linton is Schoolcraft's district energy manager, trained by Energy Education. The report covered April 2009 through October 2009, using the previous year's consumption as a baseline, and developing expected energy consumption based on weather data, changes in energy prices, building usage, and billing cycles. Linton reported a savings over the expected energy consumption by almost $24,000.
Linton, Superintendent Doug Knobloch reports, has shown ``dogged determination'' in his efforts to help staff reduce their energy usage. He regularly patrols buildings and classrooms during holidays and breaks to make sure that unnecessary items are turned off and that thermostats are turned down. He also checks energy bills for errors, and keeps an eye on any automatic equipment, like programmable thermostats. Knobloch added that technology designed to save energy -- like programmable thermostats -- fails after a period of time, and the failure can remain unnoticed. Schoolcraft shares the contract with Energy Education with other area school districts through assistance from the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency.