By Sam Rich
Staff Writer
Sept. 3, the Energy Saving Plan was approved by the Manhattan Beach Unified School District School Board. The plan calls for solar-paneled air conditioning units to be installed at the Manhattan Beach Middle School and the History building at Costa during the summer of 2015.
Funding for the Energy Saving Plan comes from the 10 mil. dollar loan from Chevron but the company responsible for the installation guarantees an eventual profit due to lowered energy costs.
“The company we’ve hired has guaranteed that we will save that much money in energy costs and if we don’t save that much money, they will pay a loan back for it,” Superintendent, Dr. Michael Matthews said.
According to Matthews, The Board of Education originally experienced sizable opposition to this plan.
“I think some people don’t want the district spending any funds on anything additional right now and we disagree with that, especially with this latest heat wave,” Matthews said.
According to Union President, Shawn Chen, the plan was opposed due to the limited budget and the lack of equity.
“It’s getting hotter and we think that not only do we need to provide those buildings with air conditioning, but I think the whole district needs to get it,” Matthews said.
Matthews is hoping that in the future, air conditioning will be installed throughly the entire district.
“I want all of our teachers to be comfortable in their work space,” Costa Principal, Dr. Ben Dale said. “It is way too hot on some days and it makes it miserable for them.”
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