MINUTES

Facilities Committee Meeting

Plainfield School District

December 16, 2004

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM. Present were Chair Bill Taylor; members S. Williams, M. Higgins, E. Church, B. Knight, M. Schaefer, M.Rosenbaum and guest Brad Atwater.

Minutes  of November 18 were passed with one correction (cancel: Assignment of different study areas was tabled”).

The Public Forum (Jan. 22) issues were discussed: supplies, food, asking PTA for extra plastic utensils and baby sitting. The January 20 meeting will be used to finalize refreshment assignments.

Since the availability of rooms with one-on-one space is a primary concern of Principal Mellow, the committee is looking at finding a solution to the space problem at PES.

There was a discussion with M. Schaeffer about this committee’s past discussions. KUA is considering pairing (?) boarding student population with outcome of need for more teachers. Right now there are 14 children of KUA parents. B. Atwater suggested that Cornish has reducing enrollment, thus it might be possible to use classrooms in their facility if space needs become significant in coming years.

Hot lunch might be able to be taken up by KUA’s outsourced food service.

There was discussion about sharing between PES and KUA regarding facilities. E. Church suggested that perhaps the PES facility could be used by KUA in summer as a “swap” for something that KUA might offer. B. Knight spoke about his idea for a trial connecting PES campus to French’s ledges via a new bridge. M. Schaeffer noted that he’d been in contact with the Trail Committee and will support the bridge.

KUA just received a large grant for the Summer Environmental Institute for young leaders for middle to high school students. Students are nominated by their public schools. One hundred fifty students are involved.

M. Rosenbaum, looking at energy efficiencies, reviewed and discussed Alan Fergusen’s document “Energy Conservation Analysis and Audit 11/04” and “Energy Study for Plainfield Elementary School” by GDS Associates. Using the oil vender’s delivery of oil as a measurement of use is more accurate than how much was bought. The report’s conclusion of figures for gallons and kilowatt per sq. ft. is not out of line. Light levels are okay. Light distribution is poor. Quality of light in the library is poor.

Neither report is from a systematic approach of “how does this building work as an organism?” M.Rosenbaum recommended that we (1)establish a baseline for where thermal energy is going: boiler efficiency, exterior shell, ventilation; do instrumentation and data logging;(2) walk around building at an hour that is really not peak and see what is “on” that shouldn’t be; (3)do an air leakage audit; (4) gym lighting is a good investment – HID light is hard to turn on/off, lighting controls would also be a good idea (5) look at total lighting retro-fit quality and energy (6)look at thermal conduction issues: windows; look at payback time (7) check air quality; CO2 levels in classrooms, air exchange. Marc said he would be interested in being involved if he was part of a larger committed community with 2 goals: electrical upgrade (lighting and motors); repair of the building envelope.

E. Church is to contact officer Gillams about applying for grant money for a 25kw generator for PES (part of Homeland Security money).

B. Knight asked to get a copy of PES electrical bill to review. S. Williams asked that an agenda topic for next month be to discuss and act on M. Rosenbaum’s suggestions. B. Taylor will contact Doug Heaton about lighting costs. M. Schaefer suggested a teacher and students participate in information and data gathering for energy evaluation.

Next Meeting: January 20, 2005. Paul from ProControls will speak.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Church

Recording Secretary