ways to cut expenses

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

After passing the budget for the upcoming year, the Troy City Board of Education took care of some other items of business.

Board members voted to go ahead with a Performance Contracting Program that has the potential of saving the school system $64,000 per year (over 10 years) in energy and operational expenses.

Jack Mansell of Johnson Control, Inc. presented information uncovered in a no-cost preliminary study.

He said making changes can help the school focus on educating students, rather than on upkeep of facilities.

Some of the changes may include retrofit lighting, of which Johnson Control is the largest contractor in North America.

Since funding is always a problem for school systems, maintenance is often deferred, meaning students are often not in the best environment for learning. That, Mansell said, is what his company wants to change here in Troy.

The goal, he said, is to reduce operational and utility costs through a 10-year program that has a lease-to-purchase agreement.

Mansell said Johnson Control offers guarantees on savings, design, schedule and cost/eliminating change orders.

Superintendent Hank Jones said the preliminary studies do not tie the system down to the project.

In other business, the board:

· Approved the voluntary transfer of Ginger Boutwell from second grade teacher to resource teacher.

· Adopted a revised Internet policy.

· Approved the transfer of an Autauga County student into the Troy City system because it is closer to special services the student is receiving in Dothan.