The Panther Valley School District is looking for proposals from firms for a solar farm to reduce its energy costs, its business manager said.

The Panther Valley School Board approved seeking proposals in conjunction with an electric bus project Wednesday night.

The proposals will allow the district to assess the full costs and firms capable of handling the project.

Jesse Walck, business manager, said prior to the meeting that a solar farm at the main school complex could reduce the district’s overall energy costs and the district could now realize savings sooner through tax credits.

In tandem, the district is also seeking grants for electric buses, which would be powered through the solar farm, further reducing the district’s cost in fuel, Walck said. Fuel cost is a very large expense for the district, he said.

Walck expects to have the requests for proposals ready in the coming weeks.

Budgets

The board also approved proposed operating budgets for 2024-25 for the Carbon Career and Technical Institute, the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, and the Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Panther Valley will pay $1,294,681 toward CCTI’s budget, which is a decrease of $22,756, Superintendent Dave McAndrew said.

The district is also seeing a decrease in its contribution to the intermediate unit, paying $8,019. That is an $81 drop, McAndrew said.

Panther Valley is seeing an increase in what it pays to the LCCC, he said. The district will pay $131,354 for 2024-25, an increase of $664 over the previous year.

Other business

In other business, the board:

• Voted against a six-year contract with Turf Tank at a cost of $10,000 a year and a one-time $1,700 implementation fee.

• Heard from student Ava Alabovitz on behalf of the student body on forming a ski club for 2024-25 for students in seventh to 12th grades. About 36 students expressed an interest, but that number may go down to about 18.

• Heard from members of the student leadership program, who recognized school board members’ service to the community and district, and thanked them, as part of School Board Appreciation Month.

• Approved the wrestling booster club for 2023-24.

• Approved the resolution for Act 1 Tax Payer Relief Act. The resolution states that the district will not raise taxes above the index, which is standard when the district is not planning for a large increase, Walck said.

• Approved a settlement agreement with student No. 102424, which anticipates an expenditure not to exceed $73,875.

• Approved Stacey Faustner as a volunteer chaperon, effective immediately.

• Approved the Panther Valley High School Program of Studies for 2024-25.

• Approved Terri Williams, Hannah Mordaunt and Jan Perilli as volunteers for Harmony Scholars.

• Approved the first reading of updated polices on security of computerized information/breach notification; data governance, acceptable use of internet, computers and network resources and records management.