CHWP on-site school health center agreement finalized
Representatives from Invenergy shared details Monday evening with the Benjamin Logan Board of Education during their regular meeting regarding its proposed 280 MW Fountain Point Solar Energy Center and the timeline of its potential construction.
Daniel Vertucci said the proposed site for the solar powered electric facility is roughly 3,000 acres located about 8 miles northeast of the Benjamin Logan School District, with the majority of the acreage in Bokescreek Township and smaller portions in Perry and Rushcreek townships.
It is the eighth proposed site by Invenergy in Ohio, which also includes one currently operational project in Hardin County and another proposed site there, along with projects developing in Union and Franklin counties, Vertucci said.
Prior to the solar project receiving formal approval, it must first go through an extensive land study and nearly a year-long permitting process.
With those considerations, Vertucci said the earliest that construction could begin on the proposed project would be mid-2023 into 2024, and with the completion of the construction expected, at the earliest, in late 2024.
The 280 MW generated by the facility would be enough to power 55,000 homes, representatives said.
An anticipated $2 million per year would be provided for annual municipal and county payments, with the Benjamin Logan School District expected to receive approximately $1.2 million annually.
District officials said while these financial prospects could be “wonderfully beneficial” for the district, they cautioned that it is still very early in the process for this proposed site.
“We wouldn’t write the figures into our financial forecast until the facility was up and running,” Treasurer Jennifer Sudhoff said.
Under land use agreements, the project can operate for approximately 45 years, at which point the owner of the facility is responsible for removing the facility. The project components are removed and recycled and the land would be returned to its current use. During its operation, vegetation is planted beneath the panels to preserve the ground.
Also during the meeting, Superintendent John Scheu reported that the district has recently received formal approval from Community Health & Wellness Partners for the agreement to provide an on-site school health center, which is aimed at bolstering student productivity and reducing the amount of time pupils miss because of health check-ups or other medical reasons.
In January, the wellness clinic will open at the elementary school, and a behavioral health services at the middle school. All of these services will be accessible by district students and staff, Scheu said.
“We’re looking forward to offering this opportunity to families in the district,” he said.
“Since we’re located in a rural setting, this really saves families a lot of time if their child is ill and in need of medical attention. They don’t have to run them into town after school; we can take care of the issue right away.”
Families maintain complete control over what health services their children do or do not receive and will be provided with consent forms for services. Further details will be available prior to the center’s opening.
The concept of the “school-based health center” is to serve, “students and faculty with primary care, integrated behavioral and ancillary health services — pharmacy, nutrition, chronic care management and social services,” Tara Bair, President/CEO of Community Health & Wellness Partners said at a previous meeting when the program was first presented.
School-based health centers offer access to healthcare for children regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.
In financial matters, the board approved a $32,380 purchase of 30 cafeteria tables from Friends Office Supply for the middle school cafeteria to be paid through the cafeteria fund.
Sudhoff said the district is utilizing a three-year rotation in purchasing cafeteria tables for each of the buildings to replace older tables, with purchases planned for the elementary school and high school in the next two years.
Additionally, the board approved two purchases with pandemic-related Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds.
The first is a $10,250 project with Humble Construction Company to install a door from a break room directly to the bus garage, which would improve air quality in that area.
The second initiative is an agreement with Legacy Maintenance Services to provide electrostatic spraying, or “fogging” district classrooms and buses after hours throughout the school year to combat COVID-19, at a cost not to exceed $49,000. The services provided either weekly or bi-weekly depending on COVID-19 case levels, Scheu said.
The superintendent also honored high school senior Averi Lane, who was named a Commended Student in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Members accepted the retirement resignations several longtime staff members: Kevin Penwell, middle school science, effective May 31; Marge Jenkins, middle school technology, effective July 31; Jana Mitchell, middle school math, effective July 31; and Lori Young, middle school science, effective July 31.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15.