In welcoming the Rancho Santa Fe school district’s board of trustees to the beginning of an exciting new school year, Superintendent Lindy Delaney said: “We are back and the teachers are back. We are off to a great start with great energy.
This year, as with any other year, Delaney has big plans for the district. From the increased funding of R. Roger Rowe’s booming robotics program to the addition of a new classroom to accommodate the arrival of new students, the superintendent is already off to a productive start. In many of her endeavors, Delaney is helped by the Rancho Santa Fe Education Foundation, an organization led by a team of volunteer parents who are dedicated to maintaining the quality of education in the school district.
The foundation receives donations yearly, helping efforts to hire new teachers and enhance academic programs. Of course, education is only one of several areas that are regularly considered for continuous development and improvement. In the year ahead, the school district plans to take advantage of Prop 39 to help make its school more energy–efficient.
Prop 39, otherwise known as The California Clean Energy Jobs Act, was approved by voters in November of 2012. Endorsed by 60 percent of the state’s voters and supported by hundreds of coalition members, the passage of Prop 39 makes up to $550 million available annually to kindergarten through sixth grade public schools, county offices of education, and charter schools.
The money is specifically geared toward projects that will improve energy efficiency and expand clean energy generation in schools. Eligible local educational agencies are able to request funding by submitting an energy expenditure plan and outline of projects to the California Energy Commission for approval.
In turn, the Energy Commission works with the California Department of Education to distribute funds after plans have been approved. Since the passage of Prop 39, schools all over the state have been working to come up with energy saving projects.
Said Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister said, “These projects will save schools energy and money, and will generate billions of dollars in economic activity – jobs – and all Californians will enjoy a cleaner environment as a result.”
In agreement with Prop 39, Delaney has suggested that the board was interested in doing anything they could to be more efficient. During the August 21st possible ways of utilizing the incoming funds. Since then, Delaney has selected a number of energy-efficient projects to implement, including the installment of a new chiller, the addition of new LED lighting in one of the older buildings of campus, and the replacement of bulbs in the parking lot lights.
The district is set to receive $250,000 over the next five years, and the three projects are expected to cost around $240,000. The district plans to pay out of pocket for these exciting developments until they are reimbursed by the state. According to Delaney, the district plans on working with SDG&E to complete the projects by next summer.