Features

Proponents of the proposed solar project at Washington Elementary School are getting ready to celebrate victory after the 7:30 p.m. Berkeley Board of Education meeting Wednesday at Old City Hall, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 

“We are so optimistic that the board will approve the project that we are going to throw a celebratory bash on Sunday,” said Tom Kelly, director of KyotoUSA—the organization behind the proposal—in an e-mail to supporters and the community. 

The project, estimated to cost $1.25 million, was first discussed by the school board in April. It proposes to cover 100 percent of the main building’s electricity needs. 

The board had refrained from approving the project in the last three meetings as they had wanted KyotoUSA to work out a more comprehensive report on the financial aspects of the proposed project. 

Kelly said KyotoUSA secured a 10-year financial municipal lease in the amount of $232,000 from Saulsbury Hill Financial to avoid bond funds. 

The Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) and PG&E will be providing $750,000 and $305,000 for the project, respectively. 

Mutual waiver 

The school board will also vote on whether to approve the proposed City of Berkeley Mutual Release and Waiver Agreement for payment of municipal charges. 

The city provides various services to the school district for which the district owes the city money. The agreement would settle a city and district dispute over what funds are due from each party to the other. 

Dining commons 

The board will vote on whether to approve a bid to install kitchen equipment and perform minor remodeling in the King Middle School dining commons. 

The project is currently stalled because of a delay in construction. It is scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2008. 

2007-08 preliminary budget 

The board will review the preliminary budget for the next school year before it comes up for approval at the June 27 meeting.