The Pettisville school board authorized the district to seek competitive bids for a wind turbine at its Monday, Dec. 13 meeting.

The turbine will provide electricity for the district, which will offset its Toledo Edison electricity bill.

The turbine is expected to save the district between $98,000 and $134,000 every year depending on the cost of electricity and the speed and consistency of the winds.

The majority of the funding for turbine project will come from a grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal economic stimulus program.

The board approved the acceptance of ARRA and other grants totaling $1,125,000 for the project.

The remaining funds will come through an interestfree loan that will be repaid with the money saved from lower electricity costs.

The wind turbine is estimated to cost $1.8 million. The total includes the equipment, installation, environmental studies, and an extended warranty, as well as design and consulting fees.

Building Project

The building project for the new K-12 school facility is progressing, said Steve Switzer, district superintendent.

Switzer told board members construction workers plan to have the building totally enclosed before the first of the year, although weather may delay it.

Pettisville officials are working with the Ohio School Facilities Commission to finalize plans for the technology needs of the building, choose the loose furnishings that will be needed, and approve final landscaping plans.

The district has agreed to pay an additional $5,000 to substitute a Vulcan oven for a different unit that was provided under the OSFC plans. The school cafeteria staff prefers the Vulcan, which provides “many desirable capabilities not present in the model provided by the project,” Switzer said.

Atrium

Dan Sauder, a board member, reported the Pettisville School Foundation is working to raise funds and finalize plans for the atrium area that will connect the new school with the portions of the current building that will be retained by the district.

The OSFC will not fund the atrium portion of the project, so the Foundation is seeking private donations to help cover the estimated $750,000 cost.

Sauder said the Foundation has raised approximately $500,000, and is continuing to seek donations, as well as looking for ways to cut the cost of the project. – D.J. Neuenschwander