Crescent-News.com - Pettisville looks at new facility, wind power projects

PETTISVILLE -- The Pettisville Local Board of Education on Monday evening discussed a future building project and the advantage of joining with Archbold Area Schools in a wind study project.

Superintendent Dr. Stephen Switzer reported the board will hold weekly work sessions concerning a new school.

Initially, the state had a projected enrollment for the district that showed the number of students would decrease by 46 to 520 for the 2017-18 school year.

With those figures, noted Switzer, Pettisville didn't qualify for a high-bay agriculture career tech lab.

School administrators didn't accept that report and appealed it, compiling figures indicating that the growth factor of open enrollment would offset any loss of local enrollment.

In April, Switzer and the district treasurer met with the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

"We were successful with our appeal and were notified that they had changed the 10-year projections from 520 to 566 as of the 2017-18 school year," explained Switzer. This action was successful in getting a preschool and career tech high-bay facility in its plan.

Turning to the wind study program, Switzer added that the district has joined with Archbold Area Schools to pursue funding for wind-generated electricity.

Archbold superintendent Dave Deskins has formed a committee and secured several grants, including an energy audit from FirstEnergy and a wind study from Green Energy Ohio. The cost benefit of the two grants is in the $50,000-$70,000 range, explained Switzer.

"While the projects were initiated and continue separately, the two districts are combining efforts to develop and fund prototype projects that may be duplicable for other school districts or other public entities," he said.

"Due to the potential Ohio School Facilities Commission project," he added, "the plan is to pursue the option in conjunction with new construction, possibly combining wind power with geothermal heating to create a facility substantially powered by wind."

In other business, the board:

-- approved the list of graduates.

-- authorized membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

-- approved one-year and two-year contracts for staff members.