Madison County schools’ energy savings equate to fewer cars, more trees

Since October of 2004, county schools have spent $555,228 less than expected in energy costs had they not been on the energy-savings plan.

Those energy saving equate to 20,644 mbtu less in cumulative green house gases. That’s the equivalent of removing 12,749 cars from the road or planting 1.7 million trees.

A base-line year was established in 2003, one year before Madison County implemented the program. The annual savings are compared to figures from that year.

Doug Wood, the school system’s energy manager, presented these statistics to the Madison County Board of Education (BOE) Tuesday night in his annual report.

“I think the program has been very beneficial to us overall as a system,” Madison County Schools superintendent Dr. Mitch McGhee said. “It’s saved us over a half-million dollars … Mr. Wood as done an excellent job.”

STRATEGIC PLAN PASSES

The Madison County school board passed its much-anticipated strategic plan Tuesday.

Included in the approval were the strategic plan mission, strategies and eight action plans.

The BOE revealed and reviewed the lengthy document in-depth for several hours in a work session Nov. 3.

“I think it was good for us to go over step-by-step as we did and I think we all have a good understanding of it at this time,” McGhee said.

SPLOST COLLECTIONS DOWN

After enjoying a record month in September, Madison County’s SPLOST receipts were down in October. Collections were even lower than the Oct. 2005 receipts.

McGhee said that’s reflective of the tough economic times.

“I don’t think we’re going to avoid negative finances in our SPLOST,” he said of the current economic climate. “I guess the one good thing about the lack of retail in our county is that it won’t fluctuate as much as those counties that have a whole lot of retail.”