By Heather Mullinix / hmullinix@crossville-chronicle.com
The Cumberland County School System has been approved for a $4.1 million loan from the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative council to upgrade aging facilities and make them energy efficient.
However, loan documents have not yet been prepared, and the school system has not formally asked the Cumberland County Commission for assistance in paying the note back.
"I talked with the budget committee, but it will not go to the county commission until we have those documents in hand," Director of Schools Aarona VanWinkle told the Cumberland County Board of Education Thursday. "I think this is something we can work with the county commission to come up with a plan over those 12 years."
VanWinkle noted Cumberland County was the first school system in the state to be approved for a long-term loan from the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative. That was one reason loan documents were not yet available.
The school system was approved for a $4.1 million loan at 2.5 percent interest, with a payback term of 12 years. However, the energy savings on the project will not provide enough funds to pay the loan back in just 12 years, and the board of education had hoped the county would assist with the project.
"Our energy savings in our project will not pay for the $4.1 million in 12 years," VanWinkle previously told the BOE. "This term will leave us with a total cumulative negative cash flow of about $1.1 million.
The project, which will upgrade lighting in school facilities, automate some of the HVAC systems and install newer, more efficient plumbing systems, as well as replace windows at Homestead and Pine View elementary schools and replace the HVAC system at Cumberland County High School, was estimated to cost $5.28 million. The school system has been approved for about $900,000 in grant funding. Repayment of loan funds is to come from savings on utility costs, which have been guaranteed by TRANE.
If the county commission does not provide additional funding to cover the shortfall, VanWinkle previously outlined a reduced scope project, removing low energy-yielding portions of the project. That includes about 61 new heat pump units and building automation system at CCHS. The boiler replacement would continue at the school, but removing new heat pumps would reduce project cost by about $1 million.
While removing the heat pumps from the project would save funds now, VanWinkle warned the pumps were installed at CCHS 17 years ago and were older when they were first installed. New heat pumps will be necessary within the next few years and will have to be paid for through capital budget funds.
Removing automation systems at Pleasant Hill, Pine View and the Phoenix School, and water conservation projects at CCHS and Martin, would decrease the cost an additional $423,570.
