What's Happening in Stow, OH…

On August 3, the Stow-Munroe Falls school board voted their approval of two resolutions that approve 15-year bond issues in the amount of approximately $3.75 million.

The bonds will be use to make improvements to school buildings. One bond is for slightly less than $2.85m, and is earmarked for energy conservation projects. The other will be used to pay for the cost of replacing windows in buildings throughout the district.

Pat Matthews, a member of the school board, said the planned improvements are necessary. She said that she would prefer not to borrow money, but it would be even worse if students did not have adequate facilities in their schools.

Mark Fritz, the school district's Director of Operations, said window replacements are necessary, since the current windows are old and lose heat in the winter. Fritz also said that putting in new windows will help conserve energy. Energy conservation projects come under the purview of the Ohio School Energy Conservation Financing Program, which allows school districts to borrow the money they need for these types of projects, and then pay it back with the energy cost savings they realize.

School district officials could work with a flyer printing company to create a mailer for parents in the school district, explaining the work, the reasons for it, and the projected energy and cost savings.