NE Dubois School Board meeting: Students advocate for solar power; CTE overview; Hosting education town hall
Students Advocate for Solar Panel System to Cut Energy Costs at NDHS
A group of physics students from Northeast Dubois High School proposed implementing solar energy at their school, aiming to reduce electricity costs.
The students appeared before the school board to advocate for a partnership with MySolar. The company allows clients to rent solar panels from existing solar fields rather than installing them on school property. This approach eliminates the school’s maintenance responsibilities, as the company handles all upkeep of the panels at its solar field locations.
The proposal comes after the class studied energy and solar panels as part of their physics curriculum, demonstrating the practical application of classroom concepts.
The proposed 32-kilowatt system through MySolar would cost between $80,000 and $105,000. According to the students, if the school corporation received grants, those estimates would drop to $55,000 to $75,000.
According to the students’ research, the high school currently spends $114,574 annually on electricity, while the entire corporation’s yearly electric bill stands at about $201,565. Renting the solar panels could result in an annual savings of approximately $8,600 on the corporation’s energy bill, amounting to $72,000 over a 10-year period.
The students highlighted that MySolar partners with Dubois REC, the school’s current electric provider, which would not require any changes to the school corporation’s existing systems.
The students also pointed out that the solar initiative would provide opportunities to address climate change in the classroom, encourage sustainable practices, and inspire environmental action beyond school.
The proposal highlights how the solar project connects to various academic disciplines, particularly in STEM fields.
The board requested contact information for Dubois REC representatives so they could explore the proposal further.
Career and Technical Education Overview
Teachers Amanda Johnson and Amy Mitchell gave an overview of the CTE program at Northeast Dubois.
The school’s CTE courses cover various fields, including agriculture, business, engineering, computer science, culinary arts, hospitality education, and health science. Northeast Dubois also partners with Patoka Valley CTE Cooperative and Lost River Career Cooperative to offer additional off-campus programs.
Along with the hands-on training students receive, many courses offer dual credits with Ivy Tech or VUJ.
Mitchell explained that each CTE course generates extra funding for the school. For instance, a student completing the culinary pathway can bring in an additional $3,002 to $4,800 annually, while the education pathway can generate $5,355. Cumulatively, in 2024, the program brought in $296,957, up from $268,000 in 2023. The projected funding for 2025 is $268,469, but that amount could change depending on how many students enroll in CTE programs.
The funding levels vary based on the state’s employment needs assessment in different sectors. For example, education courses receive more funding than culinary arts because it’s considered a high-need employment area, while culinary arts is seen as a moderate employment area.
Along with the additional funding the school receives, Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) play a crucial role in the CTE experience. They allow students to demonstrate skills learned in the classroom through competitions and leadership opportunities through national organizations like SkillsUSA and Business Professionals of America.
Two BPA students, Maya Ziegler and Tatum Wehr, recently competed at the state level. Tatum placed second in interview skills and prepared speech, earning a spot at the national competition in Orlando, Florida. Maya placed sixth overall with her prepared speech on inflation and its impact on business.
A trio of students involved in the welding program offered through the CTE cooperatives also did well in a recent SkillsUSA competition. The three–Gavin Wagner, Owen Eichmiller and Brandon Seitz–placed in the top five in regional welding competitions, with Wagner taking first place.
Business teacher Mrs. Johnson highlighted the importance of these programs, saying, “It builds collaborative critical thinking and problem-solving skills that many industry leaders say are lacking in some of the students entering the workforce.”
School officials emphasize the importance of continued legislative support for CTE funding, as these programs prepare students for both college and careers while bringing additional resources to the district.
While the total number of students involved in a CTE course in the school was unavailable at the meeting, more than 70 percent of the school’s seniors attend CTE courses off campus through Patoka Valley and Lost River daily.
Education Town Hall
Northeast Dubois School Board member Shawn Dooley reminded the board and public that they are hosting an Education Town Hall with State Representatives Shane Lindauer and Steve Bartels and State Senator Daryl Schmitt at the Celestine Community Club, 7742 E Ellsworth Rd, Celestine, on Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to noon.
“The main purpose of this is to talk about the potential impact of property tax cuts. How that’s going to negatively impact funding to our schools,” Dooley said. “The state is talking about significant cuts to our funding.”
